Author |
Message |
Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 8:56 am
I'd add the space shuttle disasters to that list.
|
Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 9:20 am
JFK/MLK/RFK John Lennon John Ritter John Denver Princess Diana Payne Stewart Christa McAuliffe/Space Shuttle
|
Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 9:23 am
I was a sophomore in high school when JFK was assassinated and an announcement came over the PA. The nuns stopped class and made us drop to our knees and say the rosary. We had no school for a few days and I was glued to the TV to watch the B&W coverage. It was the first televised service I saw. I'm pretty sure I saw the coverage of Bobby Kennedy and also saw Lee Harvey Oswald being shot "live." I was on a bus to visit friends at Camp Lejeune the summer of 1968 and got caught in the riots after MLK's death in DC and then in NC. There was a shooting on the bus. I never was so scared in my life. Luckily I was sharing a seat with a Marine who had a gun and a bottle of Southern Comfort. I was watching Monday Night Football in a bar when they broke in about John Lennon's shooting. I was teaching when the principal came over the PA to tell us about the Challenger blowing up. It was hard to not cry and I had to help the kids through their grief and deal with my own later. I retired in June 2001 so it was just before 9/11. I am glad I didn't have to go through that in school. I wouldn't have been able to handle it (I live in NJ and my sister lives in NYC.) Thurman Munson's plane crash was another one that shocked me since I am a big Yankees fan. JFK Jr.'s plane crash was another one I remember and was glued to the TV for days. And I agree with the posters that also mentioned Princess Di, John Ritter, John Denver, Phil Hartman. All sudden and tragic. Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, George Burns, Ronald Reagan were sad but not unexpected. I guess it's the deaths like Steve Irwin's and the assassinations and disasters and even the murders that catch us off guard and shock us the most.
|
Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 9:49 am
The first one I remember that shocked me was Marilyn Monroe's. The Kennedy's and Martin Lutheran King deaths were very difficult days. Grief and anger all bunched up together. The one that was most personal and knocked me for a loop that sent me spiraling in wave of insufferable grief was Harry Chapin's. I cried for three days. Princess Diana was second. 1993 was a terrible year for NASCAR fans, losing the champion Alan Kulwicki in an April 1 plane crash, with many thinking it was a horrible April fools prank. And then losing Davey Allison a few months later in a helicopter accident. I literally dropped to my knees in my living room. The news stunned me so bad, it knocked my legs right out from under me. It was seven years before I could think about it without tearing up. But that was nothing compared to 2000, which was pure hell. Losing young Adam Petty during Mother's Day weekend, and then Kenny Irwin in July. When we lost Tony Roper in October, it was like God was kicking me when I was already down. (One of my best friends committed suicide on the day that I had planned to drive down to Missouri for Tony's funeral.) The lights went out for a long time. I had nothing left when Earnhardt died at the 2001 Daytona 500. I was already deep in the abyss of depression. I had no where to go but up by the time 9/11 happened. I was at rock bottom. It was a terrible, terrible time.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 10:37 am
Gosh I remember the first shocker for me was James Dean (1955). His death came right on the heels of a local boy who died when an oil tanker semi overturned and slid across the road 100 feet down the sidewalk where he was standing. Some others: Buddy Holly (1959), Bruce Lee (1973). John Wayne (1979) and Rosa Parks last year.
|
Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 10:47 am
I still almost think that Steve's death was the most shocking for me. I think it was because of his over-the-top, go, go, go personality. It's hard to believe that has all been stilled.
|
Saxywildcat
Member
05-30-2005
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 11:26 am
Someone mentioned Ritchie Valens earlier. And not being born when that happened. I'm still getting over Buddy Holly. And I wasn't born then either. Buddy, Ritchie and the Big Bopper, all going in one crash. Terribly sad, terribly tragic.
|
Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 11:29 am
Sonny Bono was another shocker
|
Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 11:40 am
Oh! I forgot that crash that killed Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper. I was in grammar school and remember crying....Oh Donna, Peggy Sue, and Hello Baby. Think I still have the 45's somewhere. Also forgot about Marilyn Monroe and Sonny Bono. Wasn't one of the Kennedy's also killed in skiing accident like Sonny Bono? All the deaths are sad.
|
Cablejockey
Member
12-27-2001
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 4:45 am
Anna Nicole Smith's son Daniel has died in the Bahamas. He was 20 years old and so far no cause of death has been announced. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/11/AR2006091100060.html
|
Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 6:42 am
A mother should never lose a child. I am so sorry for her. I pray her new little baby girl will help get her through this awful time.
|
Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 6:53 am
how awful!
|
Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 7:48 am
Oh no that's such a shame. I didn't realize he was that old though.
|
Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 8:00 am
Too sad.
|
Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 8:59 am
I agree, all the deaths are sad. For me, I think the most shocking were Princess Di and Steve Irwin. I am still very very sad about Steven Irwin. A little of the sadness was lifted by Biloxibelle posting that she likes to think of him barreling over the Rainbow Bridge.Biloxi, if you read this, thanks so much. I think Steve Irwin was one of those rare people who are just so nice and good and decent and truly caring about people, animals and this planet more than most people all or most of the time. There just seem to be so few like that especially in the public eye. His death is such a huge loss to the world. What a hero is was.
|
Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 11:16 am
I agree, Happymom. He was very different than most celebrities--truly a regular "bloke." At least he's with his "mum" now who he was extremely close to (they shared a birthday). Very sad about Anna Nicole's son.
|
Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 1:56 pm
Oh how awful. My heart is sad for Anna.
|
Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 2:03 pm
According to police, Smith herself found her son in her hospital room yesterday around 9:00 am, thinking that he was asleep. She then tried to wake him up and, after he didn't respond, immediately called for help. At that point, doctors and staff were not able to revive 20-year-old Daniel. Anna Nicole had just given birth three days earlier in the same hospital to a baby daughter. The police continue to maintain that there were no signs of visible injury on the body, and that there were no signs of violence in the room. Police add that they haven't deemed the death a homicide, and do not suspect foul play. Sources cited by the local newspaper Nassau Guardian have suggested that the cause of death was a "massive heart attack," but neither doctors nor the local coroner has confirmed this. And the Guardian adds that Daniel Smith arrived in Nassau on Saturday, after his mother had given birth. So sad!!
|
Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 2:04 pm

|
Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 2:45 pm
That is so young. It is never good but that is so young.
|
Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 2:47 pm
If it is true that she found him, that is just the pits!
|
Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 5:18 pm
my heart goes out to her. How sad to celebrate your childs bday and then 3 days later remember the anniversary of your son's death
|
Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 8:52 pm
So sad, I can't even imagine finding your child dead. Just heartbreaking.
|
Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Monday, September 11, 2006 - 11:41 pm
Horrifyingly sad. What a shock. 
|
Saxywildcat
Member
05-30-2005
| Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 7:10 am
My mom went through something similar. Her first two children were profoundly mentally retarded. Then they adopted me and my youngest older brother. Danny was 11 when they adopted Brian. He passed away a year to the day they brought Brian home, 4 days after Brian's birthday. My mom feels it was God's way of preparing her for Danny's death. I hope that Anna can embrace her new baby girl and that the little one will help her with her grief of losing her son.
|