MILESTONES: May 10, birthdays for Missy Franklin, Kenan Thompson, Bono

May 10, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle

Missy Franklin. AP Photo/Lee Jin-man

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include singer and humanitarian activist Bono, who was born in 1960; author Barbara Taylor Bradford, who was born in 1933; actor Jason Brooks, who was born in 1966; Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin, who was born in 1995; former U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, who was born in 1960; singer, musician and songwriter Dave Mason, who was born in 1946; baseball player Salvador Perez, who was born in 1990; and comedian and actor Kenan Thompson, who was born in 1978.

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NELSON MANDELA WAS INAUGURATED ON THIS DAY IN 1994. In a dramatic and historic exchange of power, former political prisoner Mandela was inaugurated as president of South Africa. Long the focal point of apartheid foes’ attempts to end the enforced policy of discrimination in South Africa, he handily won the first free election in the country despite many attempts by various political factions to either stop the electoral process or alter the outcome.

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FRED ASTAIRE WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1899. The actor, dancer and choreographer starred in more than 40 films, including “Holiday Inn,” “The Gay Divorcée,” “Silk Stockings” and “Easter Parade.” Astaire died in California 1987.

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TODAY IS WORLD LUPUS DAY. The day’s goal is to call attention to the confusing characteristics of this potentially fatal autoimmune disease that mimics other, less serious illnesses. It also offers lupus patients the comfort of knowing their condition is recognized and being addressed on a global level.

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MAX STEINER WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1888. The composer was a musical prodigy who studied under Gustav Mahler as well as a conductor. He went to Hollywood in 1929 and became one of the top film composers of the 20th century. Nominated 20 times for an Academy Award, he received the Oscar three times for “The Informer,” “Now, Voyager” and “Since You Went Away.” Other famous scores include those for “King Kong,” “Gone with the Wind,” “Casablanca” and “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” Steiner died in 1971 in California.

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TODAY IS THE BIRTHDAY OF THE BUDDHA. Also known as the Day of Vesak, it is the most important Buddhist holiday. The founder of Buddhism had the given name Siddhartha, the family name Gautama and the clan name Shaka. He is commonly called the Buddha, meaning in Sanskrit “the enlightened one.” He is thought to have lived in India from circa 563 BC to 483 BC. Some countries celebrate this holiday on the lunar calendar, causing the date to change from year to year, but it usually occurs in either April or May. This day is a holiday in India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore and Thailand. It is also a holiday in China, but the date differs on the Chinese calendar.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela, who was inaugurated as president of South Africa on this day in 1994