MICKEY MANTLE, 63, baseball legend: "He seemed like the perfect baseball hero at a time when baseball seemed like the most perfect game. He would have been the first to acknowledge his flaws and regrets. But the last chapter of his life was marked by courage and dignity and at last an understanding and appreciation of what he meant to a generation of baseball fans."—sportscaster Bob Costas

ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY, 62, actress: "She was talented, very funny, beautiful. I did a lot of things with her away from the set. We went trick-or-treating together. I went to movies with her. It was like having two mothers."—Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha on Bewitched

HOWARD COSELL, 77, sportscaster: "When I refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War because of my religious beliefs, Howard was the first to stand beside me. That was pretty bold for a Jewish man to do for a black man of the Muslim faith."—boxer Muhammad Ali

TERRY SOUTHERN, 71, screenwriter: "We had the best of times and the worst of times. We started an awful lot of things that were never finished. Terry had a knack for doing that. He had a great sense of humor. He was also very intelligent and gentle and kind."
—actor Dennis Hopper

GINGER ROGERS, 83, actress: "She was pure magic. You can't diminish that kind of brilliance. I'm sure she's in heaven with Fred dancing cheek to cheek."—actor Mickey Rooney

YITZHAK RABIN, 73, Prime Minister of Israel: "History will remember Yitzhak Rabin not only as an Israeli patriot, not only as one who fought for his country with courage and dignity—but most importantly as a true peacemaker whose efforts and sacrifice will be remembered through the ages."—former President George Bush

EVA GABOR, 74, actress: "It was hot under the lights and learning the lines was difficult for her because she was thinking in another language. But when she walked onto the set in the morning, everything began to sparkle."—Green Acres costar Eddie Albert

ROSALIND CASH, 56, actress: "I directed her in Sophisticated Gents. Not only was she a great actress but she was personable. Her positive energy exuded throughout the cast."—director Melvin Van Peebles

ALFRED EISENSTAEDT, 96, photographer: "He never moved slowly. He was always in a hurry toward the next thing. He was curious about everything."—photographer Gordon Parks

JERRY GARCIA, 53, musician: "He didn't imitate anybody. He had his own style of thinking, his own style of life. And he played music for the music. He wasn't in it for the money. He was brilliant."—musician David Crosby

SIR STEPHEN SPENDER, 86, poet: "He was extremely funny about the fact that people liked to repeat to him the opening line of his most famous poem, 'I think continuously of those who were truly great,' and always managed to get it wrong. One woman said, 'I think an awful lot about those who were truly great.' "—writer Gore Vidal

PANCHO GONZALES, 67, tennis star: "I used to call him the 'old wolf' whose growl was considerably worse than his bite. He terrorized opponents. But he was a very sweet guy when you got to know him."—tennis commentator Bud Collins

KRISSY TAYLOR, 17, model: "I want to remember Krissy the way she was the last time I was with her in Miami. We drove in her beloved truck and laughed and sang. She was warm and genuine. Every time I see a daisy, her favorite flower, I will think of sweet Krissy."—actress Liv Tyler

DON CHERRY, 58, jazz musician: "He approached music with his entire being. He had more creative energy than anyone I've ever known."
—jazz bassist and composer Charlie Haden

JOHN CAMERON SWAYZE, 89, journalist and TV pitchman: "I'd like him to be remembered as a serious newsman. In later years he did the Timex commercials, so I'm afraid he'll be remembered as the guy who took watches down in submarines."
—journalist Walter Cronkite

LANA TURNER, 75, actress: "I worked with her in The Bad and the Beautiful. It's obvious who was the bad and who was the beautiful. Often a beautiful girl is penalized by critics, but Lana was an excellent actress. I thought her performance was brilliant."—actor Kirk Douglas

PATRIC WALKER, 64, astrologer: "He spoke a language millions of people understood and gave astrology a practical, accessible relevance."—astrologer Michael Lutin

VIVECA LINDFORS, 74, actress: "She played my mother in The Ann Jillian Story. I learned much from her as an actress, and I admired her spunk. I will remember her strong countenance and her determined but soft eyes."—actress Ann Jillian

WILLIAM KUNSTLER, 76, civil rights attorney: "Bill was such a large presence. He devoted his entire life to the struggle for racial justice in a racist society. He gave up riches and power for the more important coin of knowing that your work had meaning. He always remained true to his principles, whether they were in fashion or out of fashion, whether it got him bouquets or brickbats."—Kunstler's law partner Ron Kuby

BURL IVES, 85, folksinger: "Burl helped revive interest in old-time songs. I was on a radio program in '39 or '40 when folklorist Alan Lomax taught him 'Jimmy Crack Corn.' I didn't realize what a famous song it would become."—folksinger Pete Seeger

ALEXANDER GODUNOV, 45, dancer and actor: "His dancing could be mesmerizing and, in spite of his unhappiness at not making more good films, he was in a kind of ecstasy at becoming an American."
—actress Jacqueline Bisset

JR. WALKER, 53, saxophonist: "It was 30 years ago that Jr. recorded 'Shotgun.' There has been nothing like it since nor has there been anyone like him since. He was an original."—Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.

DR. JONAS SALK, 80, scientist: "His motive in life was to work for the benefit of mankind in every way. He tried to cure diseases that create panic, like polio and AIDS. He was a person of great vision."—Renato Dulbecco, president emeritus of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies

CHARLIE RICH, 62, country singer: "He faced the unnerving dilemma of not just wearing his heart on his sleeve; he wore his nerve endings, too. It all came out in his music. We will all continue to be touched by the honest, painful, tangled, soulful essence of the man."—author Peter Guralnick

BESSIE DELANY, 104, author and dentist (left, with sister Sadie): "I feel honored to have portrayed Dr. Bessie onstage. The challenge was to capture her indomitable spirit, her sense of integrity, her pride, her righteous anger, her graciousness, her sense...of humor and, last but...not least, her vulnerability."—actress Mary Alice

FRANK PERRY, 65, director: "He gave me my big movie break in Compromising Positions. He made me feel comfortable—not just like the fifth guy on the left. I have a warm spot in my heart for him."—actor Joe Mantegna

ART FLEMING, 70, game Show host: "Art and I were veteran television performers from the game shows of the '50s. I always admired him. He was one of broadcasting's stalwarts and possessed a marvelous sense of humor."—announcer Ed McMahon

IDA LUPINO, 77, actress and director: "She directed me in The Untouchables. She took over like gang-busters and handled everything perfectly. She was completely at ease, knew the problems of actors and was a real pro."—actor Robert Stack

LOUIS MALLE, 63, director (with wife Candice Bergen): "I was 11 during Pretty Baby. At Princeton, I wrote my thesis on him. He wouldn't finish sentences. You did not know what he was thinking, but somehow you trusted him. He was a very artsy European. He could never capitalize on fame and denigrate his artistic work."—actress Brooke Shields

MAXENE ANDREWS, 79 (left), singer: "She was much more than part of the Andrews Sisters, much more than a singer. She was a warm and wonderful lady who shared her talent and wisdom with others."—comedian Bob Hope

WARREN E. BURGER, 87, Supreme Court Chief Justice: "He enjoyed a capacity for unstinting hard work and he had the vision to set long-term goals. He always had time to offer colleagues a cup of tea and share conversation."—Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

JEROME ZIPKIN, 80 (with Betsy Bloomingdale), socialite: "Jerry was the best friend in the world—so thoughtful, so smart, so well-read. He brought a sense of remembrance of elegance that no longer is. He brought a reminder that manners do count."—comedian Joan Rivers

PHYLLIS HYMAN, 45, rhythm and blues singer: "Her voice would move you as if it were a saxophone. She knew exactly how to sway you and win you over. But there was always something hauntingly sad about her like the great blues singers from before."—singer Jennifer Holliday

BOB ROSS, 52, television art instructor: "He combined television with hypnosis and craft. You couldn't help noticing him. He became part of the pop mainstream. His nice little clouds were my favorites."—singer Lady Miss Kier

GALE GORDON, 89, actor: "What a sport! There was always some closetful of tin cans that had to fall on his head, but he took it like a gentleman. He was refined and relaxed—almost the opposite of the characters he played. I never once saw him lose his temper in six years working on Here's Lucy with him."
—actress Lucie Arnez

GEORGE ROMNEY, 88, Michigan governor: "He was a reformer before reform was cool. He was very serious about budgets and taxes, but he also had a real passion about trying to make government help people who need help."—political columnist David Broder

MARGARET GORMAN CAHILL, 90, first Miss America: "She had an easy smile, but she was very shy. I assume she was shy in 1921 too. But not too shy! She had to have had some kind of spunk to be photographed in a swim-suit in that era, when it was kind of racy."—former Miss America Lee Meriwether

HARRY GUARDINO, 69, actor: "Harry was a generous-hearted man. He appeared several times on Murder She Wrote and filled his scenes with humor and fun."
—actress Angela Lansbury

SHANNON HOON, 28, rock star: "I was charmed by his mellow irreverence. It wasn't a surprise that he died of a drug overdose. You knew it could happen that way, but you hoped it wouldn't."—MTV News reporter Alison Stewart

HENRY ROTH, 89, author: "He was a guy who tried to tell the truth and to pass along a little wisdom. He seemed like a very simple, uncomplicated, down-to-earth man. Call It Sleep will live on. It was born to be a classic."—author Tony Hillerman

WOLFMAN JACK, 57, radio personality: "He took music that he loved and brought it to a wider audience. Nobody could do a dedication with quite the flair that he did. If there's one thing that I always envied about him, it's that Todd Rundgren wrote a song about him."—radio personality Dr. Demento

GEORGE KIRBY, 71, comedian: "He was such a strong performer, I don't think you realized until you saw him in person how much command he had of an audience. He was one of those people who would walk out on stage and you'd instantly like him. That's hard to find."—comedian Fred Travalena

ORVILLE REDENBACHER, 88, popcorn mogul: "If Joe from Slobogin was the 250th person that day to want to shake his hand, Grandpa was looking for No. 251. People were enthralled that Grandpa was as anxious to meet them as they were to meet him."—attorney Gary Redenbacher

EVELYN LINCOLN, 85, President Kennedy's secretary: "She was a walking Rolodex. She knew every number of every person who ever entered his life. She was never intrusive. She was discreet. She was smart. She was about as effective as you can get."—Jacqueline Kennedy's social secretary, Letitia Baldrige

BOBBY RIGGS, 77, tennis star: "He was a wonderful rogue. He could give us all a wink, and yet he was a damn good athlete. The great irony is that he ended up playing a prominent role in helping the women's movement. When he lost to Billie Jean King, women's sports were advanced considerably."—sportswriter Frank Deford

JAMES HERRIOT (JAMES ALFRED WIGHT), 78, author, veterinarian: "He was very like his books. He had none of the pretenses of would-be literates, but he was extraordinarily sophisticated. His artistry was that he could write in such a way as to reveal no art at all."—Herriot's editor Tom McCormack

PETER COOK, 57, actor and comedian: "I made Bedazzled with him in 1967. He was a tall, patrician-looking guy. You didn't expect him to be funny, but he was outrageous and scathing. And he was off-the-cuff. Any time, any place. He was as funny off-camera as on."—actress Raquel Welch

MARGARET CHASE SMITH, 97, U.S. senator: "She was a legend. Her declaration of conscience in 1950 reflects her courage at a time when political courage was not readily available—in the days of Joseph McCarthy."—former Maine Sen. Edmund Muskie

DONALD PLEASENCE, 75, actor: "I worked with him in Soldier Blue in 1970, and I remember the joyful colors in his eyes. The wonderful contradiction of him was that he had this quiet, studious presence, and yet he had this incredible, joyous sparkle."—actor Peter Strauss

SERGEI GRINKOV, 28, pairs skater (with partner and wife Ekaterina): "He had everything—strength, power, speed, romantic presentation. He had an extraordinary musical ability. Most important, he had an extraordinary ability to partner, and that is what it takes for people to skate pairs. He was a very solid, very strong Russian bear."—sports commentator Dick Button

LINDA GOODMAN, 70, astrologer: "In my house there was the Bible, Shakespeare and Linda Goodman. She believed the more you gave, the more comes back to you. Her gifts took the form of endless encouragement—and elaborate turquoise jewelry from the Colorado Indian tribes with whom she was fascinated."—actress Terry Moore

ROXIE ROKER, 66, actress: "She was elegance personified and very articulate. Very warm, a wonderful person. Out of all of us on The Jeffersons, she was the most prepared. She was the one who always knew her lines. If she made a mistake, it was a big tragedy. She was the backbone of all of us. She was like family."
—actor Sherman Hemsley

GEORGE ABBOTT, 107, Broadway producer: "He created more stars than anybody in the history of this business, and he probably outlived most of them. I think his track record will never be equaled. He taught me a sense of discipline as an actor that I have maintained to this day."—actor Tom Bosley

ROSE FITZGERALD KENNEDY, 104, matriarch: "I always think of my mother whenever I am at the Cape. And especially when I'm getting ready to head out for a sail. I still expect to hear her voice calling out to remind me to take a sweater in case it gets cold. Her presence still fills the house, and it is there that I miss her most of all."—Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

DOUG McCLURE, 59, actor: "So many good-looking, successful guys have an arrogance about them. He never did. I think women remember him as a handsome cowboy. And I think he'd like to be remembered that way."—actor Dick Van Patten