My parents, no else even comes close.
Last Thanksgiving, (November, for those outside the US). our family went out for dinner to Lovell’s restaurant near Chicago, owned by ret. Capt. Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 fame. He came around to every table and I asked if he could sign a copy of Apollo 13 for me. In his early 70’s now, he still has a commanding presence and undeniable aura of “cool” about him.
Abraham Lincoln–Saved the Union. Sure, he was flawed; but he saw the greater good and pursued it relentlessly.
Franklin Roosevelt–Realized that the US had to intervene in WWII and brought the US to realize it too.
Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy (Teacher)
Jane Goodall
Diane Fossey
The Dude
My maternal grandparents (Liebe Ota und Oma)…
Came to this country with nothing, were sponsered by a Tennesse farmer and his wife, worked hard in TN for two years until they had enough money to move to Detroit to be with other Donauschwabens. (Ota a butcher, Oma a housekeeper for rich Italian families in Grosse Pointe). (FYI Ota=Opa…Ota more of a “loving” version of Opa.)
Needless to say they were very successful and did it without welfare checks and handouts. (well, the rich Italian families would give away gold and clothing to my Oma…yes, I’m serious).
Oma died one year ago today. sigh
Other than that…my parents are my role-models and heroes as well.
This answer is pretty shallow…
Warren Haynes. He’s the guitarist/vocalist for Government Mule. He hasn’t done anything heroic really. I just think he’s an ultra cool person and a super talented musician who doesn’t put himself in the limelight. He makes friends with everybody in the music industry, no matter who they are. When GM’s bassist Allen Woody died, Haynes got together with every bass player that Woody considered to be a positive influence on him and put out 2 volumes of The Deep End albums. Each track has a different bassist: Les Claypoole, Bootsy Collins, Jason Newstead, Flea, the list goes on and on.
That is such a great homage to a departed bandmate and friend. Warren Haynes, here’s to ya. >clink<
** Elizabeth I, Queen of England: ** consumate diplomat, brilliant, merciful, and yet firm in her convictions.
**Martin Luther King, Jr: ** a brave, determined, wonderful man whose speeches still send shivers down my spine with their power, beauty, and elegance.
** Eleanor Roosevelt: ** a tough, hardworking woman who defied the conventions of her day to fight for what she believed in, and wouldn’t let anything get in her way.
** Carl Sagan: ** who helped thousands of people understand the amazing wonders of space.
** My husband: ** a man you will never hear of. One of the countless people, those unsung heroes, who work hard every day to make this world a better place for their fellow man.
I’ve had two heroes in my lifetime, both of which attained hero status when I was around 17. I have a sense of admiration for them because they’re true to themselves as well as to those to whom they serve, they’ve dedicated their lives to making the world a better place for all, and they’re just all around good guys. My heroes are Fred Rogers and Ralph Nader.
Since the passing of Mister Rogers, I’ve gone through my scrapbook and removed the button I have with his face on it, and I now proudly wear this button in memory of a wonderful addition to the human race.
Isaac Asimov. My favorite author, and an inspiriation for geeks everywhere.
I hate hero-worship about as much as I hate anything on this planet, including astrology, casinos, and religion. Hero-worship is a very dangerous drug. I doubt it can be used at all without being abused.
*ANDREA: Unhappy the land that has no heroes!
GALILEO: No, unhappy the land that needs heroes.*
Ñ Bertolt Brecht, Life of Galileo
I would have to say Jacob Bronowski. “Who’s that?”, you say? Well, you may have seen the TV series The Ascent of Man, but probably not…
He was a scientist, musician, and philosopher who was a Polish Jew. He was educated in pre WWII Germany, and fled from there when the Nazis came to power.
He was brave, and insightful, and an intellectual giant.
To make a long story short, his work in physics AND his introspection of the nature of science and man are amazing, I especially like his thoughts on the Arrogance of Knowledge.