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JUDY WOODRUFF: The pandemic 
continues to claim the lives of 
hundreds of Americans every day.

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We want to again take a moment 
to recognize just a few of them.

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Samantha Wissinger is was 
a fighter. The Michigan 
native never lost her 
infectious laugh or

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uplifting spirit, even 
as she battled stage 
three breast cancer and 
stage four brain cancer.

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She was always helping others, 
whether that meant working as 
a registered nurse or fostering

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kittens. Last year, Samantha 
married the love of her life, 
Markus. Wednesday would have

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been their first anniversary. 
Samantha was 29 years old.

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Costell Akrie was so kind 
and humble that people called 
him Saint Costell. He served

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in the Air Force during the 
Korean War, which led him to 
meet Dianne. They were engaged

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after one month, and would have 
celebrated 65 years of marriage 
this year. Costell earned

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five college degrees while 
working three jobs to support 
his wife and two children.

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Active in his community in 
Oakland, California, he helped 
build a neighborhood playground

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and headed the Bay Area Urban 
League's Bureau for Veterans 
Affairs. Costell was 88.

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Jeff Baumbach knew how 
to brighten anyone's 
day. That joyful spirit 
propelled his career

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as an intensive care nurse 
and his volunteer work for the 
Boy Scouts of America in Lodi,

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California. Jeff met his wife, 
Karen, in high school. Together, 
they raised four children

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and planned countless family 
vacations, from Caribbean 
cruises to Disneyland. He was 57

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years old.

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Eric Gore was quiet and 
reserved, but fiercely 
loyal to his family and 
community. Following

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in his father's footsteps, 
Eric spent decades in the 
civil service, including 
as a Philadelphia

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firefighter. When he wasn't 
working, his daughter 
Logan was always by his 
side. Together, they

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learned Spanish and Mandarin. 
Eric was 48 years old.

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Anita Wynalda of Washington 
state stood at just 4 feet, 9 
inches, but her daughter says

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she had a huge personality. 
Boisterous and loving, Anita, 
or Anna, worked around the

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clock to provide for her family, 
including her 13 grandchildren.

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Anna's generosity came through 
in her work as a registered 
nurse and overnight cashier

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at Walmart, where she 
knew many of her customers 
by name. Anna was 66.

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And our hearts go out to the 
families of all who have lost 
loved ones in this pandemic.