Milestones

By Harriet Barovick, Tam Gray, Daniel Levy, Lina Lofaro, Andrew Meier, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

RETIRING. JULIE KRONE, 35, the world's most successful female jockey; from a record-shattering 18-year career; in late spring. In 1993, riding Colonial Affair at the Belmont Stakes, the tiny but ferocious Krone became the first woman ever to win a Triple Crown race.

DIVORCING. BROOKE SHIELDS, 33, TV actress and model, and ANDRE AGASSI, 28, pro-tennis bigwig; after two years of marriage; in Las Vegas.

DIED. IBRAHIM BARE MAINASSARA, 49, President of Niger; in a spray of gunfire, reportedly from his bodyguards, at the Diori-Hamani airport; in Niamey. The shooting came at the end of a frenzied week in which Mainassara's opposition accused him of fixing an election. Niger's Prime Minister said he died in an "unfortunate accident."

DIED. FRANK CORDEIRO JR., 73, war photographer; in Trail, Ore. One of Cordeiro's most moving shots--a U.S. ship exploding into a ball of flames in Pearl Harbor on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941--won Cordeiro worldwide recognition.

DIED. LUCILLE LORTEL, 98, patron of noncommercial theater; in New York City. Lortel was dedicated to providing creative havens for innovative artists. At her theaters in Connecticut and New York City, the onetime actress helped spark the careers of Sidney Lumet and Eva Marie Saint and showcased the works of Jean Genet, Sean O'Casey and Edward Albee.

DIED. HELEN ABERSON MAYER, 91, creator of the children's classic Dumbo, the Flying Elephant; in New York City. Disney adapted her story for its 1941 film.

DIED. RED NORVO, 91, jazz's original mallet virtuoso (vibraphone, xylophone and marimba); in Santa Monica, Calif. Born Kenneth Norville, he changed his name after an emcee mispronounced it. A masterly improviser known for moody, delicate arrangements, Norvo led several experimental--and highly respected--drummerless jazz bands. He also worked with Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra.