Many are spending the holidays in hospitals or under a nurse’s care waiting for a miracle to happen. You see, there are currently over 97 thousand individuals waiting for an organ or tissue donor to save their life. Each organ donor has the potential to improve the lives of as many as 50 people. By registering to be an organ donor in your state, you increase the chances that someone can be saved through your sacrifice.
Global leaders and activists gathered all over the world today to warn against complacency in fighting AIDs. The message sent out was that government must continue to fund AIDS research, prevention and help for the millions that suffer from the disease.
Former congressman Henry Hyde, a central figure in the House impeachment proceedings of Bill Clinton, passed away this morning at the age of 83. Hyde was a conservative icon who left congress last year after serving the U.S. government for 32 years. He was a man of strong convictions who often times found himself in the center of controversial issues, like the impeachment of then-president Clinton and government restrictions on abortion funding.
Sigrid Valdis, the beautiful actress who played Hilda the secretary on Hogan’s Heroes has died of lung cancer at the age of 72. For five seasons the dazzled audiences as the beautiful blonde assistance to Col. Klink. Her career spanned several years and included work in films, on stage, and on television. The native Californian spent time in Europe and then New York after graduation and began a modeling career. She worked as a designer showroom and runway model where she met her first husband. In 1964, she moved back to California to try her hand at acting and quickly became an impressive addition to Hollywood, getting film roles along side such actors as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, James Coburn, and Robert Vaughn. Sadly, just as her fame was picking up and her television career took off with her casting in Hogan’s Heroes, her first husband passed away.
Beloved American commercial actor, Dick Wilson, who charmed viewers as Mr. Whipple in the Charmin toilet paper ads passed away today. Born Riccardo DiGuglielmo to an English mother and Italian-American father, Wilson moved to Hamilton, Ontario from England when he was just a baby and grew up there. Wilson made several appearances on the television sitcom Bewitched, playing different characters in numerous episodes. He also appeared in the Disney show The World’s Greatest Athlete. However, Wilson will always be most recognized as the grumpy grocery store manager Mr. George Whipple. Procter & Gamble even recognized Wilson for his great and recognizable work as the character by providing Wilson with a free lifetime supply of Charmin.
