"F"
The front of a building, or any type of deceptive display
Facade
BU for short, it had a different name when it was founded, as it was then in Vermont
Boston University
John Avildsen may have been an underdog, but he won a directing Oscar for this 1976 Sylvester Stallone movie
Rocky
I think I can, I think I can, get you to give me this 5-word title of a Watty Piper kids' book with a never-give-up message
The Little Engine That Could
At his 2018 funeral, the son of this president, who was also a former president, said he was "The brightest of a thousand points of light"
George H. Bush
This type of imprecise "logic" used by certain computers would be worth a lot of points as a word in Scrabble
Fuzzy
In 1860 William T. Sherman was the 1st leader of this then seminary of learning & military academy, 9 years before it moved to Baton Rouge
Louisiana State University
To win a 2000 Oscar in this movie, Russell Crowe played a real blood sport
Gladiator
In the classic Collodi tale, he's the woodcarver who creates Pinocchio
Geppetto
Many funeral homes suggest keeping this to 5 minutes or less
Eulogy
A 9-letter word referring to an exact copy of printed material
Facsimile
In 1855 2 faculty members & 10 students began hitting the books at this now-Big Ten school less than 15 miles from Chicago
Northwestern University
He won a Best Actor Oscar for his role as real-life champ Jake LaMotta in 1980's "Raging Bull"
Robert De Niro
Created by Hans Christian Andersen, this tiny girl fends off marriage-minded toads before meeting her one true love
Thumbelina
Her 1997 funeral included a song with the revised lyrics "Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts"
Princess Diana
It's commonly used for outdoor paving and was also the original last name of the animated Fred and Wilma
Flagstone
One of the Seven Sisters, this Poughkeepsie college was founded in 1861 but didn't open until 1865
Vassar College
This Swank-y 2004 film fought its way to Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Actress & Supporting Actor
Million Dollar Baby
In this novel by Scott O'Dell, a girl named Karana is alone on the title isle
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Pollen found in burial caves used by these ancient humans named for a German valley suggests flowers were laid with their dead
Neanderthals
When something's done & cannot be altered, it's this 2-word French term
Fait accompli
This NYC school of design was founded in 1896 & became a division of The New School for Social Research in 1970
Parsons University
Punchy pug Marlon Brando brawled his way to a Best Actor Oscar in this 1954 classic
On The Waterfront
One of the first novels for children was the 1765 book about this girl whose name now means someone annoyingly virtuous
Goody Two-Shoes
Venerating the underworld goddess Mictecacihuatl, this celebration was moved to coincide with All Saints' Day & All Souls' Day
Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead