Milestones

By Ann Marie Bonardi, Val Castronovo, Daniel S. Levy, Ling Minhua, Benjamin Nugent, Julie Rawe, Sora Song, Josh Tyrangiel

HOSPITALIZED. TED WILLIAMS, 82, former Boston Red Sox outfielder who was one of the greatest hitters baseball has ever known; reportedly for congestive heart failure; in Gainesville, Fla. The Hall of Famer suffered two strokes in the 1990s.

DIED. ROBERT CORMIER, 75, writer, editor; in Boston. An award-winning journalist, Cormier wrote the acclaimed, controversial 1974 young-adult novel The Chocolate War, listed as one of the books most frequently banned in schools.

DIED. STEVE ALLEN, 78, late-night talk-show pioneer; of an apparent heart attack; in Encino, Calif. The first host of NBC's Tonight show, Allen went on to star in a string of influential talk and comedy shows. He was also an author, pianist, songwriter (This Could Be the Start of Something Big) and, in recent years, vocal crusader against sex and violence on TV. (See EULOGY, below.)

DIED. SAMUEL R. PIERCE JR., 78, Housing Secretary under Reagan; near Washington. A scandal in the Department of Housing tainted Pierce's bright career in law and politics. He was Reagan's only black Cabinet secretary.

DIED. RING LARDNER JR., 85, screenwriter, son of baseball writer and short-story author Ring Lardner; of cancer; in New York City. Lardner was the last surviving member of the "Hollywood 10" group of writers, directors and producers blacklisted in the 1940s for refusing to answer questions posed by the House Committee on Un-American Activities. When asked if he was a communist, Lardner said, "I could answer that question the way you want, Mr. Chairman, but if I did, I'd hate myself in the morning." He served nine months in prison in 1947 and didn't receive credit for any screenplays until 1965. He won an Oscar in 1942 for Woman of the Year and in 1970 for M*A*S*H.