Penelope Green

His sequined gowns and outrageous costumes threw clouds of glitter at American fashion for over half a century.

He castigated Robert F. Kennedy for failing to protect civil rights activists, forcing the attorney general to reckon with the depth of Black anger.

Using Asian bittersweet, the much-hated invasive species, she created whimsical rustic objects and enchanting furniture.

She published two books about her famous mother but didn’t fully embrace the family business until her late 50s, when she began writing “Dear Prudence” for Slate.

As the North Beach bar’s proprietor for 33 years, she turned it into a hub for actors, directors, writers, dancers and politicians.

As an influential editor at Women’s Wear Daily, she championed generations of designers, including Donna Karan and Vera Wang.

He and his wife knew nothing about the business when they decided to produce lighting in Charleston, S.C. Their company became a beacon of American manufacturing.

An Israeli artist, he became a global sensation, creating sculptures, paintings, toys and public works that delighted the eye and confounded perception.

For three decades, he was the face of the auction house Sotheby’s, presiding over an era in which art evolved from an object of passion into a commodity.

An electronics wizard, he was already a veteran inventor when he collaborated with Ron Dubren on an idea for a toy that giggled. The rest is retail history.