Roll Call of Notable Deaths in 2006

-- With "The Feminine Mystique," Betty Friedan gave rise to the modern women's movement, striking a chord that continues to ring four decades later.

Friedan and Coretta Scott King gained fame as crusaders for human rights. Shelley Winters and Wendy Wasserstein made their mark in the performing arts, while Jeane Kirkpatrick and Ann Richards served in government.

These women were six of the remarkable people whose deaths touched us in 2006. At one time, they might have been admiringly _ or patronizingly _ described as tough cookies. They were also known, to a few individuals, as Mom _ they had 16 children between them.

Friedan's 1963 best-seller attempted to define the plight of women who were expected to attain mental fulfillment only within the home, movingly calling the frustration many felt "the problem that has no name."

In plays such as "The Heidi Chronicles," Wasserstein portrayed the generation of women who grew up with the very issues Friedan had raised.

Winters was one of Hollywood's most colorful stars, climbing from sexpot parts to Oscar-winning dramatic roles and speaking out about social issues.

Though first gaining attention as a famous man's wife, King went far beyond that, founding the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

As ambassador to the U.N. in the Reagan years, Kirkpatrick used her powerful intellect and plainspoken ways to champion human rights in Communist Cuba and the Soviet Union. Richards served just one term as Texas governor, losing her re-election bid to future President George W. Bush, but her forthright manner made her a national figure.

The leaders, visionaries and heroes who left us in 2006 also include director Robert Altman, whose works included such masterpieces as "Nashville" and "The Player."

The world of sports lost four legends within weeks this fall: golfer Byron Nelson, baseball great Buck O'Neil, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach and Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler.

Australian adventurer Steve Irwin captivated fans worldwide with his show "The Crocodile Hunter." Ed Bradley's interviews informed and inspired "60 Minutes" viewers for a quarter-century. Aaron Spelling excelled at packaging stylish TV shows such as "Charlie's Angels."

Caspar Weinberger oversaw the Pentagon's biggest peacetime spending increase but was indicted _ and later pardoned _ for his role in Iran-Contra. Kenneth Lay also fell afoul of the law, convicted for his role in the Enron collapse.