DECEMBER 29, 2009

12 Women We Lost – and What They Helped Us Find

It's almost time to crack the champagne and ring in the New Year. But first, why not celebrate the lives of the women trailblazers, activists and heroes we lost in 2009?

We said goodbye to some notable women, including entertainers (think Farrah Fawcett, Natasha Richardson and Bea Arthur) and pioneering businesswomen like Talbot's Founder, Nancy Talbot; renowned economist, Rose Friedman; Giants owner, Sue Burns; and toy exec, Lynn Pressman Raymond.

But some of the most world-changing women may not have names you'll recognize, but they left legacies we can all be grateful for:

Crystal Lee Sutton: The inspiration for Norma Rae, she unionized 3,000 textile workers in 1977, inspiring generations of women to fight for what they deserve at work.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver: Founder of the Special Olympics, she shed new light on Americans with intellectual disabilities - and the power of perseverance.

Marilyn French: A writer and women's activist, her debut novel, The Women's Room, shaped modern feminism and perceptions about marriage.

Ann Marie Rogers: A breast cancer patient who won the right (for herself and others to come) to be treated with Herceptin, an expensive but effective drug that can extend the lives of cancer patients.

Sitara Achakzai: A female Afghani politician who encouraged women to find jobs and fight for equality, she gave her life for the advancement of her countrywomen.

Bonus PINK Link: Here are seven more women who've left their footprints on the world.

By Caroline Petters