It's hard to say goodbye, but it's good to appreciate those who've gone on.

Here are the answers.

1. He was the original Space Cowboy, going into orbit again at 77. He was also the only US Senator in space, unfortunately. (We'd like to send more of Congress there.) John Glenn.
2. Speaking of space, his Space Oddity inspired astronauts. But this musician left a permanent mark on millions of listeners here on Earth, too. David Bowie.
3. Another musician who will be missed, this Canadian poet had nothing on his tongue but 'Hallelujah'. Leonard Cohen.
4. This entertainer worked for everybody's favourite uncle in the 1960s. He played a suave master spy with a sense of humour. Robert Vaughn.
5. He was named Saoi (a bardic title) by the Irish Aosdana. But this world-class short story writer, novelist, and playwright lived in Devon, UK. William Trevor.
6. His cigars were legendary, and the CIA tried to poison them. Fidel Castro.
7. This transgender performer became world famous after she was featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The Lady Chablis.
8. This former Israeli Prime Minister was born in Poland. Shimon Peres.
9. Vietnam's answer to Axis Sally, this broadcaster got most of her 'inside information' from Stars and Stripes. Hanoi Hannah (Trinh Thi Ngo).
10. This queen who married a king in exile was born in Paris and died in Switzerland. In between, she served in the French army, worked as a salesgirl in Macy's department store in New York, and had an argument with a pope. Anne of Romania.

Not all of those we mourn this year were human: Toughie died. He was the last surviving Rabb's fringe-limbed treefrog. His friends at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Georgia will miss him, and the planet is poorer by the loss of a species.

A personal loss: on 16 December, our beloved Clancy went over the Rainbow Bridge at the age of 18. He was a fine figure of a cat, though the vets insisted he thought he was a dog. Affectionate and loyal, Clancy will be missed by all the Gheorghenis. Say hi to Niki, pal.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

26.12.16 Front Page

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