April 21

Juan Antonio Samaranch (1920–2010) was a Spanish sports official and diplomat who served as the seventh President of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001. He transformed the IOC into a financially stable organization by securing lucrative broadcast rights and corporate sponsorships. Under his leadership, the Olympic Games expanded to new host cities and included professional athletes for the first time. He played a key role in ending the sporting isolation of nations such as South Africa and the Soviet Union. Prior to the IOC, he held diplomatic posts and was vice president of the Spanish Olympic Committee. His tenure, while marked by success, faced scrutiny over allegations of corruption and the professionalization of the Games. He received numerous honors, including the Olympic Order, in recognition of his contributions to the Olympic movement.

Leopold Engleitner (1905–2013) was an Austrian Jehovah's Witness who endured imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps for his conscientious objection. He survived Dachau, Buchenwald, and other camps under brutal conditions due to his refusal to renounce his faith. After liberation, he devoted himself to documenting his experiences, publishing memoirs and giving lectures worldwide to educate future generations. Through his writings and talks, Engleitner became a respected voice in Holocaust remembrance, emphasizing resilience, faith, and the importance of standing up for one's beliefs. He was honored by numerous human rights and cultural organizations late in life. Even into his centenarian years, he continued to speak publicly about tolerance and the dangers of totalitarianism.

Nabi Tajima was a Japanese supercentenarian born on August 4, 1900, on the island of Kikaijima. She became the world's oldest verified living person in September 2017 at the age of 117. Her life spanned three centuries, witnessing rapid social and technological changes in Japan. She survived both World Wars and the 1918 influenza pandemic. Tajima credited her longevity to a balanced diet of fish, rice, and sweet potatoes. She was celebrated in Japan as a symbol of resilience and the possibilities of long life. Her death on April 21, 2018, marked the end of an era and drew global attention to supercentenarian research.

Polly Higgins was a Scottish barrister and environmental activist born in 1968. She advocated for the legal recognition of ecocide—the destruction of ecosystems—as an international crime. Higgins authored influential books, including 'Eradicating Ecocide in Europe and Beyond'. She founded Earthlaw, a movement to enact ecocide laws at national and global levels. Her work inspired policymakers, activists, and the legal community to rethink environmental protections. She served as a consultant to governments and NGOs on sustainable development and corporate accountability. Higgins passed away on April 21, 2019, leaving a lasting legacy in environmental law.

Terry A. Anderson was an American journalist born in 1947 in Lorain, Ohio. He served as the Associated Press Middle East bureau chief, covering conflicts in Lebanon. Anderson was kidnapped by Hezbollah militants in 1985 and held hostage for 2,454 days. During his captivity, he wrote clandestine letters and communicated with the outside world. His release in 1991 drew international attention to press freedom and the risks journalists face. After his ordeal, Anderson became an advocate for journalists' safety and founded scholarships in their honor. He passed away on April 21, 2024, remembered for his resilience and dedication to reporting.