Letter: Hugh Downs by the numbers

Broadcasting icon Hugh Malcolm Downs died on July 1, 2020, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Mr. Downs, born in Akron, Ohio, on Feb. 14, 1921, was 99 years old. I enjoyed watching his reporting on ABC News “20/20” for many years. I put together the following numerical curiosities in his memory:

1. Mr. Downs was born in 1921 on 2/14 and died this year (2020) on 7/01. Interestingly, twice the reverse of 701, namely 107, equals 214.

2. Each non-leap year contains 321 days from Mr. Downs’ birthdate on and interestingly, 2 x 321 / 3 = 214.

3. The sum of the leftmost and rightmost two digits of Mr. Downs’ birth year and the year he died are equal: 19 + 21 = 20 + 20.

4. Mr. Downs died on 7/1/20 and if this date number is split as 71 and 20, 71 is the 20th prime number.

5. Mr. Downs died on the 183rd day of 2020 and 2020 contains 183 more days after the day he died.

6. Lastly, if he still lived, Mr. Downs’ 107th birthday to occur on 2/14/28 would have been interesting for at least two reasons: if 2/14/28 is split as 2, 14, and 28, 2 x 14 = 28. Further, 2 x 107 = 214.

I hope you rest in peace, Hugh Downs. Amen.