Notebook: Feb. 24, 1997

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ELIZABETH O'DONNELL, 43; BUFFALO, NEW YORK; founder of the Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped

After she left the Ice Capades, O'Donnell taught skating. But she yearned for a greater challenge, so she began teaching the blind to skate. Since then, with the help of countless volunteers, she has taught more than 9,000 mentally and physically handicapped people. Each year these students get the chance to showcase their talents in an ice-show extravaganza.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

GLENDA JACKSON, 60; LONDON; Former actress

Once upon a time, she was a Queen of England--on the TV screen--but now she's a hardworking Member of Parliament. Jackson, who has two Best Actress Oscars, and was a 1972 Emmy winner for Elizabeth R, walked away from movie celebrity in 1992 and won election as Labour's representative for Hampstead and Highgate. During a 27-year acting career, she suffered from extreme stage fright; she told the Guardian last September that "the longer I carried on, the greater the fear became.'' In the House of Commons, however, she is fearless. Proud of her working-class roots--she's a bricklayer's daughter--Jackson concentrates on transportation issues. Last week she led her party's attack in opposing privatization of the London Tube. When elections are held this spring, Labour is favored to win. Jackson is reported to be in the running as a possible Cabinet member, but regally dismisses the notion, saying, "My only political ambition is to be re-elected."

19 YEARS AGO IN TIME

The Greatest Falls

A new film, When We Were Kings, explores the 1974 bout in Zaire, when underdog Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman. Four years later, the champ was beaten: "Through everything, Ali was a fighter. In his youth, when he...took the title from Sonny Liston, he was a dazzling, dancing fighter. In mid-career, when he willed his body through three epic bouts with Joe Frazier, he was a courageous fighter. Toward the end, when he paced his... resources to turn away muscular challengers...he was a thinking fighter. Last week he was an old fighter. He had to match the craft of his past against an opponent who seemed to have little more than youth...and courage on his side." --Feb. 27, 1978