"Many people would agree that 2020 has been a very heavy and scary year. We have lost many people, whether it be from Covid-19, or from other illnesses."--Reeghan Walsh 6th Grade
Many people would agree that 2020 has been a very heavy and scary year. We have lost many people, whether it be from Covid-19, or from other illnesses. There are 5 people who have done much for America (and the rest of the world), who lost their lives to cancer this year: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Congressman John Lewis, actor Chadwick Boseman, Jeprpardy’s Alex Trebek, and musician Eddie Van Halen. In this article, we will be honoring those 5 people and their achievements.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has done much for women’s equality and rights over her lifetime. She witnessed female inequality when she went to Harvard, being only 1 in 9 women out of a class of 500 students. She worked just as hard as all the men, especially when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Ginsburg attended both her and her husband’s classes, doing her’s and his work. Her husband recovered and Ginsburg went back to taking just hers. Ginsburg moved to Columbia with her husband and did her last year of studying law there. She won a coveted seat on Columbia’s law review. It was amazing that she did this because she was also on Harvard’s law review. This is a huge accomplishment. Ginsburg then graduated tied for Valedictorian of her class.
Though Ginsburg had amazing academic achievements, she struggled to get a job. Out of 12 law firms she applied for, she got none of the jobs. In 1970, Ginsburg co-founded The Women’s Rights Law Reporter. In 1973, she argued her first case before The United States Supreme Court. She also founded the ACLU’s Women's Rights Project. Ginsburg published the first textbook on sex discrimaintion law titled, Text, Cases, and Materials on Sex-Based Discrimination, published in 1974. Then, in 1993, after serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for 13 years, President Bill Clinton appointed her to the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was only the second woman to be named to the Supreme Court, and was the first Jewish woman to serve.
In 1999, Justice Ginsburg was diagnosed with colon cancer. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy all without missing a day or service on the bench. Justice Ginsburg recovered, but 10 years later, she was diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer. Justice Ginsburg returned to the court within 12 days of her successful operation. Unfortunately, the cancer was strong, and she lost her life on September 18, at age 87, in her home in Washington, D.C. surrounded by family. Ginsburg will always be remembered for her amazing achievements and work towards making women and men equal. If you would like to read more about Ruth Bader Gincbrug, you can here: PopSugar.com, Achievement.org.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has done much for women’s equality and rights over her lifetime. She witnessed female inequality when she went to Harvard, being only 1 in 9 women out of a class of 500 students. She worked just as hard as all the men, especially when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Ginsburg attended both her and her husband’s classes, doing her’s and his work. Her husband recovered and Ginsburg went back to taking just hers. Ginsburg moved to Columbia with her husband and did her last year of studying law there. She won a coveted seat on Columbia’s law review. It was amazing that she did this because she was also on Harvard’s law review. This is a huge accomplishment. Ginsburg then graduated tied for Valedictorian of her class.
Though Ginsburg had amazing academic achievements, she struggled to get a job. Out of 12 law firms she applied for, she got none of the jobs. In 1970, Ginsburg co-founded The Women’s Rights Law Reporter. In 1973, she argued her first case before The United States Supreme Court. She also founded the ACLU’s Women's Rights Project. Ginsburg published the first textbook on sex discrimaintion law titled, Text, Cases, and Materials on Sex-Based Discrimination, published in 1974. Then, in 1993, after serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for 13 years, President Bill Clinton appointed her to the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was only the second woman to be named to the Supreme Court, and was the first Jewish woman to serve.
In 1999, Justice Ginsburg was diagnosed with colon cancer. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy all without missing a day or service on the bench. Justice Ginsburg recovered, but 10 years later, she was diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer. Justice Ginsburg returned to the court within 12 days of her successful operation. Unfortunately, the cancer was strong, and she lost her life on September 18, at age 87, in her home in Washington, D.C. surrounded by family. Ginsburg will always be remembered for her amazing achievements and work towards making women and men equal. If you would like to read more about Ruth Bader Gincbrug, you can here: PopSugar.com, Achievement.org.
John Lewis
John Lewis fought for civil rights right up to the very end of his life. Lewis became a prominent leader of the civil rights movements in the 1960s. He joined the Freedom Rides that began in 1961. He was a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and became it’s chair in 1963. From there, he helped organise the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a Dream Speech.” Lewis had been brutally attacked multiple times at peaceful protests and marches throughout this time. Some of which left permanent scars.
In 1987, Lewis was elected in Georgia’s fifth district for the House of Representatives. He held this position until death. In 2011, Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. According to The Guardian, Obama said, “I first met John when I was in law school, and I told him then that he was one of my heroes. Years later, when I was elected a US senator, I told him that I stood on his shoulders. When I was elected president of the United States, I hugged him on the inauguration stand before I was sworn in and told him I was only there because of the sacrifices he made.”
In December last year (2019), Lewis announced his stage-four pancreatic cancer. According to The Guardian, Lewis said, “I have been in some kind of fight- for freedom, equality, basic human rights- for nearly my entire life. I have never faced a fight quite like this one I have now.”
On July 17 2020, John Lewis died at the age of 80. “As a nation, and as people, we’re going to get there. We’re going to make it,” Lewis told NBC. Nashville named a prominent city street “Rep. John Lewis Way” in his honor Lewis will be remembered for what he has done for civil rights, taking terrible attacks, and fighting for freedom for the future. If you would like to read more about John Lewis, you can here: NBC, TheGuardian.com.
John Lewis fought for civil rights right up to the very end of his life. Lewis became a prominent leader of the civil rights movements in the 1960s. He joined the Freedom Rides that began in 1961. He was a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and became it’s chair in 1963. From there, he helped organise the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a Dream Speech.” Lewis had been brutally attacked multiple times at peaceful protests and marches throughout this time. Some of which left permanent scars.
In 1987, Lewis was elected in Georgia’s fifth district for the House of Representatives. He held this position until death. In 2011, Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. According to The Guardian, Obama said, “I first met John when I was in law school, and I told him then that he was one of my heroes. Years later, when I was elected a US senator, I told him that I stood on his shoulders. When I was elected president of the United States, I hugged him on the inauguration stand before I was sworn in and told him I was only there because of the sacrifices he made.”
In December last year (2019), Lewis announced his stage-four pancreatic cancer. According to The Guardian, Lewis said, “I have been in some kind of fight- for freedom, equality, basic human rights- for nearly my entire life. I have never faced a fight quite like this one I have now.”
On July 17 2020, John Lewis died at the age of 80. “As a nation, and as people, we’re going to get there. We’re going to make it,” Lewis told NBC. Nashville named a prominent city street “Rep. John Lewis Way” in his honor Lewis will be remembered for what he has done for civil rights, taking terrible attacks, and fighting for freedom for the future. If you would like to read more about John Lewis, you can here: NBC, TheGuardian.com.
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman was an accomplished, dedicated, kind, and amazing person and actor. Many kids looked up to him. He was an awesome role model. What many people didn’t know was that he has written and directed a short film called Blood Over a Broken Pawn. He won an award for this. It was a Jury Award Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. Boseman won many other awards as well. Such as the CinemaCon Award for Male Star of Tomorrow (2014), Virtuoso Award for Get on Up at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the latter award for 21 Bridges (2019), and the BET Award for Best Actor for Marshall. For Black Panther alone, Boseman won the BET Award for Best Actor, the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (shared with the rest of the cast), the People’s Choice Award for favorite Male Movie Star, the MTV Movie + TV Awards for Best Hero Performance in a Movie, and the Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.
What we didn’t know was that Boseman was in a battle with colon cancer. He filmed many movies while battling without people knowing. According to Vocal Media, Boseman teared up when he told a story of 2 young children who had cancer. They were super excited to see Black Panther, but passed before they got to watch it. Of course, this would make anyone upset, but this was devastating, and close to home for Boseman. On August 28, 2020 Boseman lost his life to a four-year battle with colon cancer at age 43. He was only three months away from turning 44. He passed away in his home in Los Angeles. Boseman was an amazing role model, actor, hero, and human. He will be remembered for his acting and his amazing dedication. If you would like to read more about Chadwick Boseman, you can here: Vocal Media.
Chadwick Boseman was an accomplished, dedicated, kind, and amazing person and actor. Many kids looked up to him. He was an awesome role model. What many people didn’t know was that he has written and directed a short film called Blood Over a Broken Pawn. He won an award for this. It was a Jury Award Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. Boseman won many other awards as well. Such as the CinemaCon Award for Male Star of Tomorrow (2014), Virtuoso Award for Get on Up at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the latter award for 21 Bridges (2019), and the BET Award for Best Actor for Marshall. For Black Panther alone, Boseman won the BET Award for Best Actor, the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (shared with the rest of the cast), the People’s Choice Award for favorite Male Movie Star, the MTV Movie + TV Awards for Best Hero Performance in a Movie, and the Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.
What we didn’t know was that Boseman was in a battle with colon cancer. He filmed many movies while battling without people knowing. According to Vocal Media, Boseman teared up when he told a story of 2 young children who had cancer. They were super excited to see Black Panther, but passed before they got to watch it. Of course, this would make anyone upset, but this was devastating, and close to home for Boseman. On August 28, 2020 Boseman lost his life to a four-year battle with colon cancer at age 43. He was only three months away from turning 44. He passed away in his home in Los Angeles. Boseman was an amazing role model, actor, hero, and human. He will be remembered for his acting and his amazing dedication. If you would like to read more about Chadwick Boseman, you can here: Vocal Media.
Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek was a delightful host for Jeopardy! the game show. He hosted the show for more than 30 years, and was very dedicated to it. As a result, Trebek won many awards, including the Academy Icon Award (2020), Daytime Emmy (2020. 2008, 2006, 2003, 1990, & 1989), Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), OFTA TV Hall of Fame (2009),OFTA Television Award (2008), OFTA Television Award (1998), OFTA Television Award (1997), Career Achievement Award (2020), Star on the Walk of Fame (1999). Trebek was also athletic. On October 6, 2020, Trebek made a cameo appearance in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, announcing the Ottawa Senators's third-overall draft pick, Tim Stützle, in the style of a Jeopardy! Question. In 1996, Trebek ran the Olympic Torch in Jacksonville, Florida, through a leg in its journey to Atlanta.
Sadly Trebek was fighting stage-four pancreatic cancer. He announced this on March 6, 2019. He did well his first year of treatment, but it started going downhill the next. Trebek started feeling more fatigued due to the chemotherapy. In October, he underwent surgery related to the cancer, and returned to the show 2 weeks after it. He was unable to handle the full workload and had to split his usual recording (daily) into 2 separate days. Then, on November 8, 2020, at the age of 80, Trebek passed away in his home in Los Angeles. Trebek will be remembered for his incredible dedication to his show, and his kindness to others. If you would like to read more about Alex Trebek, you can here: IMDB.com, Jeopardy.com, Wikipedia.
Alex Trebek was a delightful host for Jeopardy! the game show. He hosted the show for more than 30 years, and was very dedicated to it. As a result, Trebek won many awards, including the Academy Icon Award (2020), Daytime Emmy (2020. 2008, 2006, 2003, 1990, & 1989), Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), OFTA TV Hall of Fame (2009),OFTA Television Award (2008), OFTA Television Award (1998), OFTA Television Award (1997), Career Achievement Award (2020), Star on the Walk of Fame (1999). Trebek was also athletic. On October 6, 2020, Trebek made a cameo appearance in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, announcing the Ottawa Senators's third-overall draft pick, Tim Stützle, in the style of a Jeopardy! Question. In 1996, Trebek ran the Olympic Torch in Jacksonville, Florida, through a leg in its journey to Atlanta.
Sadly Trebek was fighting stage-four pancreatic cancer. He announced this on March 6, 2019. He did well his first year of treatment, but it started going downhill the next. Trebek started feeling more fatigued due to the chemotherapy. In October, he underwent surgery related to the cancer, and returned to the show 2 weeks after it. He was unable to handle the full workload and had to split his usual recording (daily) into 2 separate days. Then, on November 8, 2020, at the age of 80, Trebek passed away in his home in Los Angeles. Trebek will be remembered for his incredible dedication to his show, and his kindness to others. If you would like to read more about Alex Trebek, you can here: IMDB.com, Jeopardy.com, Wikipedia.
Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen was a highly talented guitarist. He formed a band in 1972 with his older brother Alex. They originally named it Mammoth, but 2 years later, changed the name to Van Halen. The band’s first album, Van Halen, reached #19 on the Billboard pop music charts. Then in 1992, the band won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocals for the album Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. In 2007, Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame individually. In 2019, the band ranked 20th on the RIAA list of best-selling artists with 56 million album sales in the United States and more than 80 million worldwide. Additionally, Van Halen charted 13 number-one hits in the history of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart; meanwhile, VH1 ranked the band 7th on a list of the top 100 hard rock artists of all time.
Despite being a skillful rock artist, Van Halen had some health issues. In 2000 he began undergoing treatment for tongue cancer. He had a surgery that removed roughly a third of his tongue. Then, in 2002, he was declared cancer-free. But, in 2019, Van Halen was hospitalized after battling throat cancer for the previous 5 years. His ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, posted something on Instagram mentioning a battle with lung cancer as well. On October 6, 2020, Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65. He died at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. Van Halen will be remembered for his crazy skills on the guitar. If you would like to read more about Eddie Van Halen, you can here: Wikipedia.
These five people have certainly left a mark on the world. It’s sad that we have lost them, but we can honor them and what they have done for as long as we want. There were people that I didn’t get to mention in this article, but we should still honor them as well. Hopefully a cure for cancer will come out soon, so that no more lives have to be lost to it.
Eddie Van Halen was a highly talented guitarist. He formed a band in 1972 with his older brother Alex. They originally named it Mammoth, but 2 years later, changed the name to Van Halen. The band’s first album, Van Halen, reached #19 on the Billboard pop music charts. Then in 1992, the band won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocals for the album Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. In 2007, Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame individually. In 2019, the band ranked 20th on the RIAA list of best-selling artists with 56 million album sales in the United States and more than 80 million worldwide. Additionally, Van Halen charted 13 number-one hits in the history of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart; meanwhile, VH1 ranked the band 7th on a list of the top 100 hard rock artists of all time.
Despite being a skillful rock artist, Van Halen had some health issues. In 2000 he began undergoing treatment for tongue cancer. He had a surgery that removed roughly a third of his tongue. Then, in 2002, he was declared cancer-free. But, in 2019, Van Halen was hospitalized after battling throat cancer for the previous 5 years. His ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, posted something on Instagram mentioning a battle with lung cancer as well. On October 6, 2020, Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65. He died at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. Van Halen will be remembered for his crazy skills on the guitar. If you would like to read more about Eddie Van Halen, you can here: Wikipedia.
These five people have certainly left a mark on the world. It’s sad that we have lost them, but we can honor them and what they have done for as long as we want. There were people that I didn’t get to mention in this article, but we should still honor them as well. Hopefully a cure for cancer will come out soon, so that no more lives have to be lost to it.
