Heather Michele O’Rourke was a child actress that is best remembered for her outstanding portrayal of the “Carol Anne” character from the Poltergeist movies. There are a lot of versions to what actually caused her death. Some say it was medical misdiagnosis, some say it was a medical cover up on the set of Poltergeist III, some say it was just something that happened. But whatever it was, this bright, super smart kid, who should have had a great career and life ahead if her, barely even made it to the “peek at the boys” stage. No matter what version of the events you believe, she died on the operating table in 1988. She is buried (and often visited by fans) at the Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, GPS 34.05849, -118.44177.

William Caxton was the very first English printer. That, along with dates of birth and death, and the fact that he is buried in the St. Margaret’s Churchyard in London, England, appear to be about all anyone knows about the guy. You have to wonder about what type of printing press they must have had back then. Certainly a far cry from modern quick service places, as evidenced by offers on the latest Vista Print coupons. I may just do a study on this.

Benjamin Franklin. How much of an introduction is necessary? He was a member of the Continental Congress, he was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was a printer, and he was an inventor… he even invented bifocals, which is even today one of the most preferred low vision aids. Oh, and don’t forget, his picture is on the hundred dollar bill. He is buried in the Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, near the Archer Street intersection.

John Fairfield Dryden was the founder of the well known Prudential Insurance company, one of the leading providers of term insurance today. He was also a senator, representing the state of New Jersey. He served for five years, in spite of several allegations that he used his money and power to buy the votes necessary to gain him the position. He is buried at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey.

Gary Kildall… you may not recognise the name, but there is a VERY large chance that life as you know it would have been vastly different without him. He was a computer scientist, the developer of the cpm system, which predated, and was at least the idea behind, DOS. He was a true pioneer within the personal computer industry. He is buried at the Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Seattle.

Noah Purifoy was an artist who worked with “rubble art” media… of the type that most people would see as simply a huge pike of trash. His best known work was a traveling exhibition called “66 Signs of Neon” (which makes one wonder what he could make out of the digital signage around today, doesn’t it?) which was actually composed of rubble from the famous riots of his time. The location of his grave has, unfortunately, is unavailable at this time.

Wilbur Barry Coon was one of the highest profile and prolific shoe manufacturers of his day. His company carried a particularly wide range of styles, much as Naot does in more modern times. For the most part, he dealt with supplying over ten thousand outlets with women’s and children’s styles, though during World War 1 he instead supplied shoes and boots to the troops. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York.

Gustavus Conyngham was, well, a pirate. Or a patriot… it really depended upon who was telling the story. Born in Ireland, he came to America as a young man and was apprenticed to a man in the shipping trade. Soon enough, during the Revolutionary war, he was captaining a ship under commision to the Continental Navy. He took to capturing British ships, and looting them, mostly of mail and arms, which were turned over to the Continental Army. One of his piratic cruises finally resulted in his capture by the British, who would have executed him had not Benjamin Franklin intervened on his behalf, getting his status changed to that of a prisoner of war. He eventually returned to the United States, and was even documented to have fought in the War of 1812. He is buried at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Churchyard in Philadelphia.

Laurence Marshall was the founder and brains behind the Raytheon Corporation. His company was responsible for many of the electronics developements without which modern electronics would be completely different, including radar, microwave technology, and the Hawk missile, to name just a few. Also a noted anthropolodist, his work led to two novels (written by his wife and daughter), one published in the fifties, the other in the seventies. Laurence Marshall is buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Just the name Bing Crosby brings happy, nostalgic memories to an awful lot of people, perhaps because, as an actor, he could be counted on to touch your memories and mind, and as a singer, he could be counted on to touch the heart. Who could forget the many times he costarred with Bob Hope in the famous “Road” movies? Or that incredibly funny scene from “White Christmas” when he and Danny Kaye dressed up in clip on earrings and held feather fans to sing the song “Sisters”? Truly, a legend like this one needs no explanation or introduction. He is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California, and the plot is Grotto, L-119, space 1.