December 06

Evert van Linge was born in 1895 and became a celebrated footballer for the Dutch national team, earning multiple caps as a forward. At club level, he played for Be Quick 1887, where he won several national championships. Van Linge represented the Netherlands at the 1920 Olympics, helping secure a bronze medal for his country. After retiring from football, he pursued a career in architecture, applying the discipline and creativity he had honed on the field. His architectural works contributed to early 20th-century Dutch design, blending functionality with modern aesthetics. Van Linge's dual legacy in sports and architecture marks him as a multifaceted talent.

Born in 1938 in Missouri, Carroll Cole was an American serial killer whose crimes shocked the nation. He confessed to the murders of at least 12 victims across multiple states between the 1970s and 1980. Cole was also linked to arson attacks and admitted to acts of cannibalism. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in California after his 1980 conviction. While incarcerated, he remained unrepentant and never fully explained his motives. Cole died behind bars on December 6, 1985.

Born in 1906, Mary Elizabeth 'Mimi' Smith trained and worked as a nurse in Liverpool. She later became the guardian and mother figure to her nephew John Lennon after his parents separated. Smith provided a disciplined and nurturing environment that shaped Lennon's early life and career. Her steadfast support and influence were instrumental during the formative years of one of history's most famous musicians. She remained a respected presence in the Beatles' story until her death in 1991.

Ralph H. Baer was born in Germany in 1922 and emigrated to the United States in 1938. He worked as an engineer and conceived the idea of playing video games on a television set. Baer developed the prototype 'Brown Box', which was licensed to Magnavox and released as the Odyssey in 1972, the first home video game console. Over his career, he held more than 150 patents and continued to innovate in electronics and gaming. His contributions earned him the National Medal of Technology and induction into multiple halls of fame. Baer's groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the modern video game industry. He continued to consult and speak about gaming until his death in 2014.

Luke Somers was born in London in 1981 and held dual British and American citizenship. He studied at Columbia Journalism School and worked as a freelance photographer covering the Arab Spring and the civil war in Yemen. In 2013, he was kidnapped by a faction of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and held hostage for over a year. Despite negotiations, a U.S. special forces rescue operation in 2014 resulted in his death. Somers' work was published in major international outlets, and he was lauded for his empathetic storytelling and commitment to shedding light on humanitarian crises. His colleagues remember him for his bravery, compassion, and the powerful images he captured. His untimely death sparked discussions about the risks faced by journalists in conflict zones.