It started with soccer legend Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who passed away Thursday at 82. The Brazilian icon won 3 World Cups, and built his legend in his native country before emigrating to the US to play professionally for the NY Cosmos in the 70's. He appeared with Sylvester Stallone in the 1981 film, "Victory" (aka "Escape to Victory"), and remained an ambassador for the sport of soccer until his passing.
This morning, they are mourning Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who succumbed to an illness at 95. After resigning from the papacy due to declining health in 2013, Benedict served as a mentor to the current Pope, Francis, remaining at the Vatican until his death on Friday. To my knowledge, he might've been the first Pope Emeritus.
Finally, trailblazing news reporter-anchor Barbara Walters, whose career began as a writer for CBS in the late 50's, and became the first woman to anchor a nightly national newscast for ABC in 1976, passed away, also on Friday, at 93.
Walters made her television debut filling in as a runway model at a fashion show she was covering for CBS. She spent 13 years co-hosting Today for NBC, leading to the late Gilda Radner's famous parody of Walters, Baba Wawa, on Saturday Night Live. She teamed with Harry Reasoner, who returned to ABC from CBS, to co-anchor the ABC Evening News, even though that didn't last very long. Walters then segued to launching, with Hugh Downs, 20/20, which is still on the air today.
Walters also co-created, hosted, and served as executive producer of The View, before announcing her retirement in 2014. ABC sent Barbara into retirement in grand style with special guests Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. At the end of the show, Walters attempted a sit-down monologue......
Walters continued as EP of The View for a few more years, perhaps serving as a mentor to current moderator Whoopi Goldberg.
Rest in peace.
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