October 20

Klaus Störtebeker was a 14th-century maritime outlaw and leader of the Victual Brothers. Operating in the Baltic and North Seas, he terrorized merchant shipping and challenged Hanseatic trade. His exploits earned him folk-hero status, with legends of daring raids and escapes. In 1401, he was captured and executed by the Hanseatic League in Hamburg. His name endures in German maritime folklore and popular culture.

Anne Sullivan (1866–1936) overcame childhood illness and visual impairment to become a trailblazing educator. A graduate of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, she was hired at age 20 to tutor the young Helen Keller. Sullivan developed innovative tactile teaching techniques that enabled Keller to learn language and communicate with the world. Their partnership spanned decades, and Sullivan’s dedication became a model for special education. She documented her methods in writings and lectures, influencing generations of teachers working with disabled students. Sullivan’s legacy lives on in the field of education and in the story of resilience and compassion she shared with Keller.

John McConnell (1915–2012) was an American peace and environmental activist. In 1969, he proposed and organized the first Earth Day celebration in San Francisco to honor the planet and promote conservation. His vision emphasized global unity, peace, and respect for the natural world. McConnell founded the Earth Society Foundation to advance his ideals through education and outreach programs. He continued to champion environmental stewardship and world peace until his death in 2012.

Sid Yudain was an American journalist and entrepreneur who founded Roll Call in 1955. Born in 1923, he recognized the need for a dedicated publication covering the activities of the U.S. Congress. Under his leadership, Roll Call became the definitive source for legislative news and political insiders. Yudain guided the newspaper's growth over decades, shaping how Capitol Hill events were reported. His legacy endures in the continued prominence of Roll Call as a leading political news outlet. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 90.