Death of Two Legends: What Will Be the Legacy of Your Life and Career?
Two "Legends"* died this past week: On Friday, January 22, Hank Aaron (Age 86) and on Saturday, January 23, Larry King (Age 87). *A Legend is defined to be an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field.
Both well-known publicly and well-accomplished in their fields, born within 3-months of each other with deaths just 1-day apart, I was enticed to dig deeper and draw comparisons to their lives/legacies* - upbringing, careers/work, families/personal life, faith/values and deaths. Doing so, three (3) questions came to mind: 1."What makes someone a 'legend', their accomplishments leaving a lasting legacy?" 2. "At the end of life, what truly defines: success, accomplishment and fulfillment?", 3. And most importantly, "What Will Be the Legacy of My Life/Career?" *A Legacy is defined to be a story coming down from the past; especially one regarded as historically true/accurate.
First, the oldest of the two, with information obtained from Wiki and other online sources...
Larry King (Lawrence Harvey Zeiger) an American television presenter, radio host, and journalist, died on January 23, 2021 (aged 87) in Los Angeles, California. King was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 1933. He was one of two children of Jennie (Gitlitz), a garment worker, and Aaron Zeiger, a restaurant owner and defense-plant worker, who were both born in Russia. His parents were Orthodox Jews who emigrated to the United States from Belarus in the 1930s.
King attended Lafayette High School, a public high school in Brooklyn, and thereafter had no further formal education. King's father died of a heart attack when King was nine years old. This resulted in King, his mother, and brother going on government welfare. King was greatly affected by his father's death, and subsequently lost interest in his schoolwork.
King resided in Beverly Hills, California. A lifelong Brooklyn Dodgers/Los Angeles Dodgers fan, King was frequently seen behind home plate at the team's games.
Awards/Recognition: King is said to have conducted over 50,000, many high-profile interviews with presidents, world leaders, Hollywood royalty and sports stars during the course of his 65-year-long career as a TV and radio host. King's work was recognized with awards including two Peabodys, an Emmy award, and ten Cable ACE Awards.
Seven (7) Spouse(s)/Eight (8) Marriages: Freda Miller (m. 1952; ann. 1953), Annette Kaye (m. 1961; div. 1961), Alene Akins (m. 1961; div. 1963), (m. 1967; div. 1972), Mickey Sutphin (m. 1963; div. 1967), Sharon Lepore (m. 1976; div. 1983), Julie Alexander (m. 1989; div. 1992), Shawn Southwick (m. 1997). About his many marriages, King often quipped with reporters and other members of the news media, telling the Associated Press after one divorce: "I'm not good at marriage, but I'm a great boyfriend."
Five (5) Children and Nine (9) Grand Children: From his seven wives, King had five children and nine grandchildren, as well as four great-grandchildren. His children with Alene (Andy and Chaia), died within weeks of each other in August 2020, Andy at 65 from a heart attack and Chaia at 51 from lung cancer. Following his death, the following message was posted on King's official Twitter account signed by sons Larry King, Jr., Chance King, and Cannon King: "We are heartbroken over our father's death, and, together with our extended family, mourn his passing. The world new Larry King as a great broadcaster and interviewer, but to us he was 'dad'. He was the man who lovingly obsessed over our daily schedules and our well-being, and who took immense pride in our accomplishments—large, small, and imagined. And through it all, we knew without a doubt in the world that he loved us more than life itself. He was an amazing father, and he was fiercely loyal to those lucky enough to call him a friend. We will miss him every single day of our lives."
Illnesses and Death: On February 24, 1987, King had a major heart attack before a successful quintuple-bypass surgery. Following this, he wrote two books about living with heart disease: Mr. King, You're Having a Heart Attack: How a Heart Attack and Bypass Surgery Changed My Life, and Taking On Heart Disease: Famous Personalities Recall How They Triumphed over the Nation's #1 Killer and How You Can, Too. On April 23, 2019, King underwent a scheduled angioplasty and also had stents inserted. About this, King later said he had had a stroke in March, and was in a coma "for weeks", within it admitting he had contemplated suicide following the stroke, telling a Los Angeles television station KTLA, "I thought I was just going to bite the bullet. I didn't want to live this way."
On January 2, 2021, it was revealed that King had been hospitalized ten days earlier in a Los Angeles hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. On January 23, he died at the age of 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.
About death, King commented: "My biggest fear is death because I don't think I'm going anywhere." "I want to be frozen on the hope that they'll find whatever I died of and bring me back."
Faith: After describing himself as a Jewish agnostic in 2005, King stated that he was fully atheist in 2015.In December 2011, King stated that he would like to be cryogenically preserved following his death. In 2017, he stated "I love being Jewish, am proud of my Jewishness, and I love Israel". Often referenced is a quote by the talk-show host Larry King, in his response to a particular question: "If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?" Mr. King's answer was that he would like to interview Jesus Christ. When the questioner followed with, "And what would you like to ask him?" King replied, "I would like to ask him if he was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me." Questioning Christ | RZIM
Quotes attributed to Larry King include: "I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening. I never learned anything while I was talking." "Those who have succeeded at anything and don't mention luck are kidding themselves." "I never forgot being poor, and I never stopped thinking how fortunate I am." "If you do something, expect consequences." "I just love asking questions. I love people. It's in my DNA. I'm cursed - and blessed."
And the second, the younger of the two...
Henry Louis Aaron, nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball player regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Aaron was born on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama, and died on January 22, 2021 (aged 86) in Atlanta, Georgia. He played 25 seasons, from 1952 through 1976, beginning with the Negro Leagues, Indianapolis Clowns (1952) and in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1954–1974), and the Milwaukee Brewers (1975–1976). His 755 career home runs broke the long-standing MLB record set by Babe Ruth and stood as the most for 33 years. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its list of the "100 Greatest Baseball Players". In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
MLB Records: 2,297 career RBIs (runs batted in), 6,856 career total bases, 1,477 career extra-base hits, 25 career all-star appearances
Career Highlights and Awards: 25× All-Star Appearances, World Series champion (1957), NL MVP (1957), 3× Gold Glove Award (1958–1960), 2× NL batting champion (1956, 1959), 4× NL home run leader (1957, 1963, 1966, 1967), 4× NL RBI leader (1957, 1960, 1963, 1966), Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers No. 44 retired, Braves Hall of Fame, American Family Field Walk of Fame, Major League Baseball All-Century Team. On August 1, 1982, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, having received votes on 97.8 percent of the ballots, second only to Ty Cobb, who had received votes on 98.2% of the ballot in the inaugural 1936 Hall of Fame election.
After his retirement, Aaron held front office roles with the Atlanta Braves, including senior vice president and director of player development, making him one of the first minorities in Major League Baseball upper-level management. In 1999, MLB introduced the Hank Aaron Award to recognize the top offensive players in each league. On January 8, 2001, Aaron was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Bill Clinton, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor from President George W. Bush in June 2002. Also in 2002, Aaron was honored with the "Lombardi Award of Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. The award was created to honor Vince Lombardi's legacy, and is awarded annually to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the coach.
In 2010, Aaron was named a Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society, to recognize accomplishments and community service that reflect the ideals of the founding body of Trustees, which governed the Georgia colony from 1732 to 1752. In 2011, the President of Princeton University Shirley M. Tilghman awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to Aaron. In November 2015, Aaron was one of the five inaugural recipients of the Portrait of a Nation Prize, an award granted in recognition of "exemplary achievements in the fields of civil rights, business, entertainment, science, and sports."
Overcoming Adversity: Aaron himself downplayed the "chase" to surpass Babe Ruth, while baseball enthusiasts and the national media grew increasingly excited as he closed in on the 714 career home runs record. Aaron received thousands of letters every week during the summer of 1973, including hate mail from people who did not want to see Aaron break Ruth's. Aaron (then age 39) hit 40 home runs in 392 at-bats, ending the 1973 season one home run short of the record. After the end of the season, Aaron said his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season,
He was the recipient of several death threats during the 1974 offseason. Threats extended to those providing positive press coverage of Aaron. Lewis Grizzard, then executive sports editor of the Atlanta Journal, reported receiving numerous phone calls calling journalists "nigger lovers" for covering Aaron's chase. While preparing the massive coverage of the home run record, he quietly had an obituary written, afraid that Aaron might be murdered.
In July 2013, media reported that Aaron's home was burglarized. Jewelry and two BMW vehicles were stolen. The cars were later recovered.
Upbringing, Family and Faith: Aaron was born and raised in and around Mobile, Alabama, one of seven siblings, including Tommie Aaron, who played major-league baseball with him. Aaron grew up in a poor family attending Central High School as a freshman and a sophomore. His family could not afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks. His boyhood idol was baseball star Jackie Robinson. Aaron was a member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Aaron's first marriage was to Barbara Lucas in 1953. They had five children: Gary, Lary, Dorinda, Gaie and Hank Jr. He divorced Barbara in 1971, and married Billye Suber Williams on November 13, 1973. With his second wife, he had one child, Ceci.
Aaron was Catholic, having converted in 1959 with his family. He and his wife first became interested in the faith after the birth of their first child, whom they baptized immediately. A friendship with a Catholic priest later helped lead to Hank and his wife's conversion. Aaron was known to frequently read Thomas à Kempis' 15th-century book The Imitation of Christ, which he kept in his locker.
Aaron indicated his resolve, overcoming many hurdles in life, came from his Christian faith. “I need to depend on Someone who is bigger, stronger, and wiser than I am,” he said. “I don’t do it on my own. God is my strength. He gave me a good bound and some talent and the freedom to develop it. He helps me when things go wrong. He forgives me when I fall on my face. He lights the way.” Hank Aaron, the Faith-Filled MLB Star Who Broke Babe Ruth’s Home-Run Record, Has Died – Faithwire
Illnesses and Death: Aaron suffered from arthritis and had a partial hip replacement after a fall in 2014. On January 5, 2021, Aaron publicly received a COVID-19 vaccination . He and several other African American public figures, including activist Joe Beasley (84) and Andrew Young (88), former mayor of Atlanta, did so to demonstrate the safety of the vaccine and encourage others to do the same. Aaron died in his sleep on January 22, 2021, two weeks shy of his 87th birthday, in Atlanta.
In an interview following Aaron's death, Atlanta Braves chairman Terry McGuirk said the team is “absolutely devastated” to learn of Aaron’s death, describing the athlete as “a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts. “His incredibly talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature,” continued McGuirk. “Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world. His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts.”
As you ponder and further consider what truly defines: "success", "accomplishment" and "fulfillment" in life, and what "legacy" you wish to leave, here's a few passages from the Bible that I, and many others, have found to be very enlightening and useful. What Does the Bible Say About Legacy? (openbible.info)
Psalm 78:4 - We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Psalm 145:4 - One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
2 Timothy 2:2 - And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
1 Timothy 4:8 - For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Matthew 6:20-21 - But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 - For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Psalm 112:1-3 - Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
2 Timothy 4:1-22 - I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Psalm 103:17 - But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,
Proverbs 13:22 - A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
2 Peter 1:12-15 - Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Joshua 4:21-22 - And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’
John 17:20-25 - “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Philippians 4:4-13 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ...
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Psalm 23:1-6 - Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...