On this day

February 5, 2012

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Historical Context for February 5, 2012

In 2012, the world population was approximately 7,201,202,485 people^[†]

Notable Deaths

2012Sam Coppola, American actor (born 1932)^[†]

Sam Coppola was an American character actor of stage, film, and television, appearing in more than 35 films and nearly 40 television shows, since 1968.

2012Al De Lory, American keyboard player, conductor, and producer (born 1930)^[†]

Alfred V. De Lory was an American record producer, arranger, conductor and session musician. He was the producer and arranger of a series of worldwide hits by Glen Campbell in the 1960s, including John Hartford's "Gentle on My Mind", Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman" and "Galveston". He was also a member of the 1960s Los Angeles session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew, and inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007.

2012John Turner Sargent Sr., American publisher (born 1924)^[†]

John Turner Sargent Sr. was president and CEO of the Doubleday and Company publishing house from 1963 to 1978, taking over from the previous president, Douglas Black. He led the expansion of the company from "a modest, family-controlled business to an industry giant with interests extending into broadcasting and baseball." A socialite, he was active in New York's cultural circles.

2012Jo Zwaan, Dutch sprinter (born 1922)^[†]

Jo Zwaan was a Dutch sprinter. He competed in the Men's 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay events at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Two years earlier he had already been present at the 1946 European Athletics Championships as part of the Dutch 4 × 100 m relay team, that finished in 4th position in 42.3 seconds.

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Headlines from February 5, 2012

Killers’ Families Left to Confront Fear and Shame

By Serge F. Kovaleski

In a society where headlines of violence are almost commonplace, the families of the perpetrators are largely unheard from. But now some relatives have decided to share their stories.

National2428 words

Romney Scores Nevada Victory With Broad G.O.P. Support

By Jim Rutenberg and Jeff Zeleny

Mitt Romney won handily in the Nevada caucuses with the help of groups he has struggled to persuade before, including strong Tea Party supporters and very conservative voters.

National1436 words

Egypt Defies U.S. by Setting Trial for 19 Americans on Criminal Charges

By David D. Kirkpatrick

The move is part of a politically charged investigation into the foreign financing of nonprofit groups that has shaken the 30-year alliance between the United States and Egypt.

Foreign1114 words

Sloan-Kettering Chief Is Accused of Taking Research

By Andrew Pollack

The president of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Craig B. Thompson, is in a billion-dollar dispute with his former workplace over accusations that he walked away with research.

Business1178 words

Whatever You Desire, My Duchess

By Janet Maslin

Anne Sebba looks at the Duchess of Windsor in a new biography; Scotty Bowers’s memoir reveals Hollywood’s sexual secrets.

Culture1078 words

How About Gardening or Golfing at the Mall?

By Stephanie Clifford

After decades of decline, malls across the country are being redeveloped by communities and planners trying to forge new gathering places out of vast lots with empty buildings.

Business1232 words

Onstage, the Glory; Backstage, the Intrigue

By Neil Genzlinger

“Smash,” NBC’s series about backstage Broadway, comes with New York and Hollywood names off screen (Steven Spielberg, Therese Rebeck) and on (Debra Messing and Brian d’Arcy James).

Culture632 words

A Lightning Rod in the Storm Over America’s Class Divide

By Jennifer Schuessler

The political scientist Charles Murray has a new book, “Coming Apart,” which depicts members of white elites as hypocrites living in a bubble and the white working class as succumbing to moral decay.

Culture1291 words

Significant and Silly at BuzzFeed

By David Carr

The Web site is trying for pollination: providing the kind of content that will have visitors passing along links from one person to the next, that will in turn bring them around to BuzzFeed.

Business1375 words

Print News Media Go Live With Video Programming

By Brian Stelter

Web sites, newspapers and other news organizations are gearing up to produce hours of video programming, in part to pursue the higher revenues available from video ads.

Business1215 words

Azarenka Pulls Out With Injury, and the U.S. Takes Advantage

By Ben Rothenberg

The Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus withdrew from her Fed Cup match against the United States.

Sports969 words

With Depth and a Zone, Syracuse Rolls Over St. John’s

By Mark Viera

Syracuse easily defeated St. John’s on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, finding a welcome reception from the flailing Red Storm and orange-clad supporters.

Sports633 words