Howard Dicus: A Florida girl switched at birth got a judge to deny visitation to her biological parents, effectively divorcing them in favor of the mom and dad who raised her.
Pop star Michael Jackson was accused of sleeping with boys; Woody Allen was cleared of molestation charges; Britain's Chuck and Di separated.
Michael Jordan suddenly retired.
Michael Jordan: “When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of to prove something as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game of basketball.”
Howard Dicus: Baseball expanded in 1993. In Miami when the brand-new Marlins played, Ed Meyer he took his son out of school to see it.
Ed Meyer: “I told the principal that I felt like it was an historic event, and he said that, being a history teacher, he had to agree with me.”
Howard Dicus: And now the obits-- Polio-vaccine developer Albert Sabin died in 1993. Dr. Michael Katz of the March of Dimes remembers how forceful Sabin was at making his points when meeting with people.
Dr. Michael Katz: “He would continue it; he would tell the Chairman, 'I'm gonna continue until I'm finished,' and no one would dare to ask him to stop (laughing).”
Howard Dicus: Also in science we lost Dwight Harken, the pioneer of intensive-care units in hospitals; and Louis Thomas, the incomparable science writer who described an anthill as 'a giant brain with little bits for its wits'.
An important jurist died in 1993, the first African-American to make the Supreme Court. Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and Federal Judge Ralph Winter remember Thurgood Marshall.
Reverend Jesse Jackson: “The legal predicate to offset the years of slavery, segregation were offset by Thurgood Marshall. He stands alone, peerless, as a legal giant in the history of our country.”
Judge Ralph Winter: “… and a warm, kind human being. Alas, he was mortal, although that, believe it or not, came as a surprise.”
Howard Dicus: Watergate judge Gerhardt Gisele died in 1993, as did Watergate conspirator H. R. Haldeman and Watergate burglar Frank Sturgis.
A former First Lady died. UPI's Helen Thomas remembers Pat Nixon.
Helen Thomas: “I think she was a great First Lady and a very self-sacrificing one, and I always felt that if President Nixon had listened to her, he could have avoided the whole Watergate scandal.”
Howard Dicus: The film director Fellini died in 1993. River Phoenix, an actor in his 20s with an antidrug image, died of a drug overdose. We lost TV star Raymond Burr; George McFarland of the “Spanky and Our Gang” movies; and Stewart Granger; and Don Ameche …
Don Ameche: “If he, that often half-starved lonely little man, to be told the world has no need of him the moment his work is done ... ”
Howard Dicus: Actresses who died in 1993 included Helen Hayes, Audrey Hepburn, Ruby Keeler and Lillian Gish; and we lost Myrna Loy.
Myrna Loy: “How many times have I told you I hated you and believed it in my heart? How many times have you said you were sick and tired of me, that we were all washed up? How many times have we had to fall in love all over again?"
Howard Dicus: Two publishers, William Randolph Hearst, Jr. and Joseph Pulitzer, Jr., both died in May of 1993. We lost Foreign Correspondents Winston Burdett and Harrison Salisbury, as well. Economist Eliot Janeway died; and William Golding, who wrote Lord of the Flies. We lost wine magnate Julio Gallo; and labor leader César Ch?vez. Astronaut Deke Slayton died; and tennis great Arthur Ashe; and East German dictator Erich Honecker; and John Connally, the Texas Governor wounded in the Kennedy assassination.
Howard Dicus: Violinist and educator Alexander Schneider died in 1993, as did the contralto Marian Anderson; and the conductor Klaus Tennstedt; and the ballet star Rudolf Nureyev.
Howard Dicus: This was the cool sound of Dizzy Gillespie. He died just a few days into 1993. Bob Crosby, the brother of Bing and a Big Band leader, died this year; so did guitarist Carlos Montoya, who taught the world the flamenco; and Sammy Cahn, who wrote “Call Me Irresponsible” and “All the Way”.
Howard Dicus: Frank Zappa died in 1993. Many knew Zappa only as a raunchy rock star; but he also composed a great deal of classical music and Zappa recorded jazz albums, as well.
Howard Dicus: Zappa was an aggressive artist who told Congress that parents should be responsible for their children, and musicians should record what they want …
Howard Dicus: The battle of the sexes became bloody in 1993 when a Washington area woman severed her husband's ability to mate. His organ was surgically reconnected, but the couple will not be getting back together.
And that's the Year in Review.
