January 03

Alois Hitler was an Austrian civil servant who worked in the customs administration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Born Alois Schicklgruber in 1837 in the Waldviertel region, he later adopted the surname Hitler in 1876. He served as a customs official in various posts, eventually rising to the rank of senior civil servant. In 1885, he married Klara Pölzl, with whom he had six children, including his second child, Adolf Hitler. His strict parenting style and frequent relocations influenced his family's early life. Alois died in 1903 in Linz, leaving a complex legacy tied to his son's later infamy.

Edgar Cayce was born in 1877 in Kentucky and worked as a photographer before discovering his psychic abilities. He became famous for trance readings in which he provided medical diagnoses, prophecies, and spiritual guidance while allegedly asleep. Cayce authored numerous books and articles on holistic health, reincarnation, and prophetic visions. He founded the Association for Research and Enlightenment to preserve his readings and promote metaphysical studies. His work attracted a wide following and sparked interest in alternative medicine and occultism. Critics questioned his methods, but Cayce’s legacy endures through ongoing research and the work of his devoted followers. He passed away in 1945, leaving behind thousands of documented readings.

William Joyce was born in the United States in 1906 and raised in Ireland and England. He joined several far-right political groups before the outbreak of World War II. Joyce gained notoriety as "Lord Haw-Haw", broadcasting pro-Nazi propaganda from Germany to demoralize Allied forces and civilians. His radio programs mixed political commentary with personal insults directed at Allied leaders. After the war, Joyce was captured in Germany, tried for high treason by the British government, and convicted. He was executed in 1946 at Wandsworth Prison. Joyce’s broadcasts remain a notorious example of wartime propaganda and its influence.

Sammy Younge Jr. (1944–1966) was a pioneering African American civil rights activist and student leader at Tuskegee Institute. As president of the student NAACP chapter, he organized sit-ins, voter registration drives, and protests against segregation in Alabama. On January 3, 1966, Younge was fatally shot while attempting to use a whites-only restroom, making him one of the first martyrs of the civil rights struggle. His death sparked outrage and helped ignite a wave of student activism across the nation. Younge’s courage and sacrifice remain a powerful symbol of youth engagement in the fight for racial equality.

Jack Ruby (1911–1967) was an American nightclub proprietor who became infamous for fatally shooting Lee Harvey Oswald on live television on November 24, 1963. Born Jacob Rubenstein, he claimed his act was driven by grief over Kennedy’s assassination and a desire for justice. Ruby’s shooting of Oswald shocked the nation and raised questions about potential conspiracies surrounding the president’s death. He was convicted of murder in 1964, though his conviction was later overturned on appeal. Ruby died of a pulmonary embolism in 1967 before a new trial could take place, leaving his motives and the broader mysteries unsolved.

Joy Adamson (1910–1980) was an Austrian-Kenyan naturalist and artist whose pioneering conservation efforts brought international attention to wildlife protection. Alongside her husband, she raised Elsa, an orphaned lion cub, documenting the experience in the bestselling book Born Free. Adamson’s vivid paintings and evocative writing inspired the acclaimed 1966 film adaptation. She spent her life working in Kenya’s game reserves, advocating for ethical treatment of animals and the preservation of their habitats. Adamson’s legacy endures in her contributions to wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education.

Betty Freeman (1921–2009) was an American philanthropist best known for her unwavering support of contemporary composers, including John Cage, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich. She commissioned and funded dozens of new compositions, providing essential resources for avant-garde music to flourish. Freeman was also a gifted photographer, capturing intimate portraits of composers, artists, and cultural figures over several decades. Her photographs have been exhibited internationally and published in books on modern music and art. A graduate of Stanford University, she embodied a deep passion for the arts and played a pivotal role in shaping America’s contemporary music landscape. Freeman's legacy endures through the Betty Freeman Fund, which continues to support musicians and photographers.

Robert Lee Carter was an influential attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, arguing key cases before the Supreme Court. He served as co-counsel in Brown v. Board of Education, helping end racial segregation in public schools. In 1954, he joined Thurgood Marshall’s team and later became a federal judge for the Southern District of New York. Appointed by President Kennedy in 1967, Judge Carter served on the bench for over three decades, overseeing landmark civil rights litigation. His legal career was marked by a steadfast commitment to justice and equality under the law.

Saul Zaentz was born on February 28, 1921 in Passaic, New Jersey. He founded Fantasy Records and later expanded into film production under Fantasy Films. Zaentz produced three films that won the Academy Award for Best Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Amadeus (1984), and The English Patient (1996). He was known for his meticulous approach to literary adaptations and fierce defense of artists' rights. Among his unproduced projects was a film version of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. He received an Honorary Oscar in 2011 for his contributions to cinema. Zaentz died on January 3, 2014 in San Francisco, leaving a legacy of groundbreaking films.

Diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at 16, Elena Huelva used social media to document her treatment journey and advocate for pediatric cancer research. Under the hashtag Mis ganas ganan (My will wins), she inspired thousands with her candid posts and positive outlook. Her Instagram and TikTok channels became platforms for fundraising and sharing resources with patients and families. She published a memoir highlighting her experiences and the importance of early detection. Elena's openness and courage brought global attention to rare cancers among young people. She passed away on January 3, 2023, at the age of 20, leaving a lasting impact on the cancer community.