Remembering Dame Patricia Routledge (1929-2025)

Dame Patricia Routledge, born February 17, 1929, died today at age of 96. Although she was a hugely successful stage actress, she is best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket on the television series Keeping Up Appearances.  She won a Whitbread Award in 1966, and a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Darling of the Day in which she starred with Vincent Price.  She won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her work in Candide.

Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Pi Alpha Phi, first Asian American fraternity

Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity, established February 1, 1929 at the University of California at Berkeley, was the first Asian American interest fraternity.  At the time, UC-Berkeley fraternities typically discriminated against men of color, so three students decided to start a fraternity for the several hundred students of Chinese descent enrolled there. 

The fraternity encouraged its members to learn Asian-American culture, heritage, and history.  Pi Alpha Phi became national when Beta chapter was established at Stony Brook University in 1990.  By 2014, it had expanded to ten chapters, an associate chapter, and six colonies.

Unfortunately, in 2020, its National Board of directors put a moratorium on chapter activities after multiple reports of sexual misconduct.  In November 2021, a pledge died after a hazing incident and three people were hospitalized.  The fraternity announced the closure of all chapters in August 2023.

Remembering Astronaut James McDivitt (1929-2022)

Astronaut James McDivitt, born June 10, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, passed away October 13, 2022 at age 93.  He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in September 1962 as a member of Astronaut Group 2.  His first mission in space was commander of Gemini IV.  It was the first time a rookie was in command of a NASA flight.  He traveled with Ed White, who conducted the first EVA for the U.S.

McDivitt's second flight was on Apollo 9 as commander in March 3, 1969, with David Scott and Russell Schweickart for 10 days.

He left the Astronaut Corps after Apollo 9, and was assigned backup commander of Apollo 12, and made mission commander of Apollo 15.  He retired in June 1972.

He was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Air Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.  

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Patrick Flores, first Mexican-American Catholic bishop

Patricio (Patrick) Flores, born July 26, 1929 in Ganado, Texas, became the first Mexican-American Catholic bishop.  After graduating from high school in Galveston, he studied at St. Mary's Seminary in La Porte, TX and St. Mary's Seminary in Houston.

He was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston May 26, 1956. Pope Paul VI appointed Flores as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in March 1970, and then as bishop of the Dioceses of El Paso in May 1978. 

In August 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed Flores as archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.  He retired at the age of 75 in December 2004.  He passed away in January 2017 of congestive heart failure and pneumonia.  

Happy birthday, Gemini and Apollo astronaut James McDivitt!

James McDivitt, born June 10, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, participated in both Gemini and Apollo programs.   He joined the US Air Force in 1951 and retired as brigadier general in 1972.

His first trip into space was as commander of Gemini IV in June 1965.  Fellow astronaut Edward White conducted the first EVA by an American during the mission.

His second and final mission was aboard Apollo 9 as commander in March 1969.  It was the first flight of the full Apollo spacecraft, with the command and service module (CSM) and the Lunar Module (LM).  The mission lasted ten days.

The 1st Academy Awards held 1929

The very first Academy Awards ceremony was held May 16, 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California.  It honored the movies, cast and crew of the films released in 1927-1928.  Sunrise and 7th Heaven were the big winners with three Oscars each.  Wings took home the award for Best Picture.

The ceremony lasted 15 minutes.

Happy birthday, Challenger astronaut, William Thornton!

William Thornton, born April 14, 1929 in Faison, North Carolina, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights, both on Challenger.

His first mission was STS-8 as mission specialist in August-September 1983.  He conducted experiments on biofeedback techniques and space sickness.

His second mission was on STS-51-B as mission specialist in April-May 1985.  It was the second flight of the European Space Agency's Spacelab.

Comedian Extraordinaire Arte Johnson born 1929

Arte Johnson, born January 20, 1929 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, rose to fame playing many different roles on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In.  His most notable character was Tyrone F. Horneigh, a dirty old man who always chased Ruth Buzzi's Gladys Ormphby. 

Of course, his Nazi spy hiding in the dwarf palm tree is another classic role.  He won a Primetime Emmy in 1969 for Special Classification Achievements - Individuals (Variety Performances).  He also won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Love At First Bite.

He passed away July 3, 2019 from bladder and prostate cancer.

Cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev born 1929

Cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev, born September 5, 1929 in the former Soviet Union, went into space twice. 

His first mission was aboard Vostok 3, a solo flight during which he spent 4 days in space in August 1962.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz 9 as commander in June 1970. He spent 17 days in space with fellow cosmonaut Vitaly Sevastyanov.

He passed away from a heart attack in 2004.

Happy birthday, Gemini and Apollo astronaut Dick Gordon!

Richard "Dick" Gordon, born October 5, 1929 in Seattle, Washington, is one of only 24 men who have been to the moon.  He got a degree in Chemistry from the University of Washington and then went on to become a pilot in the military.

He was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1963 and was back-up pilot for Gemini VIII.  His first space flight was as pilot of Gemini XI, with Pete Conrad.

Gordon was Command Module Pilot for Apollo 12 in November 1969, with Alan Bean and Pete Conrad.  He remained in orbit above the moon taking pictures of possible future landing sites, while his comrades were strolling around the Ocean of Storms.

He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame March 19, 1993.

Happy birthday, Hyacinth Bucket!

Actress and comedienne Patricia Routledge, born February 17, 1929, is best known for her portrayal as status-seeking Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) on BBC's Keeping Up Appearances.  She left the show after 5 seasons to pursue other projects.

Unfortunately, Hyacinth's phone number was one digit different from the Chinese Takeaway, causing her no end of frustration.