Milestones

By Michelle Derrow, Tam Gray, Daniel Levy, Lina Lofaro, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

GRADUATED. NANCY RUTH MACE, 21, the first female cadet to finish at the Citadel; in Charleston, S.C. CHIH-YUAN HO, 23, and MELISSA KAY GRAHAM, 21, the first women to complete training at the Virginia Military Institute; in Lexington, Va. Mace, who received her magna cum laude degree from her father, the school's commandant of cadets, also announced her engagement to a classmate.

ARRESTED. SUSAN and GARY WOODWARD, parents of nanny Louise Woodward, who was convicted of killing a baby in her care; for questioning related to misuse of their daughter's defense fund; in Cheshire, England. The couple, now separated, were released and will meet with prosecutors on July 1.

DIED. DANA PLATO, 34, child star of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes; of an apparent drug overdose; at the home of her fiance's parents; in Moore, Okla. Plato, who suffered from drug and alcohol addiction, was arrested in 1991 for robbing a video store. Her onscreen siblings Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges have also had run-ins with the law since the hit series was canceled.

DIED. SHEL SILVERSTEIN, 66, children's author, playwright, Playboy cartoonist and Oscar-nominated songwriter; of a heart attack; in Key West, Fla. Silverstein, who served in the Korean War, was best known for writing and illustrating mischievous, charmingly tasteless books of poetry for children (Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic)--a career he never intended, even though he sold 14 million books. His quirky poems featured a cast of rogues ranging from the unruly Dancing Pants to the unsanitary Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout (who "would not take the garbage out"). He also wrote the lyrics to several hits, including Cover of "Rolling Stone" and A Boy Named Sue, and nine plays, often working in conjunction with David Mamet. DIED. MEG GREENFIELD, 68, longtime editor of the Washington Post editorial page and Newsweek columnist; of cancer; in Washington (see EULOGY).

DIED. Saul Steinberg, 84, artist and cartoonist; in New York City (see THE ARTS).

DIED. GENE SARAZEN, 97, golfer and inventor of the sand wedge; in Naples, Fla. Nicknamed the "Squire" for his diminutive size and enormous panache, Sarazen won two major championships before turning 21. At the 1935 Masters, where he became the first player to win all four majors, Sarazen struck the "shot heard round the world," a 235-yarder, for a double eagle on the 15th hole. Four decades later, still sporting his trademark knickers, he punctuated his last tournament with a hole in one.