TASK DEFINITION: Generate a topic word for the given sentence. A topic word is usually the name of a person, place, animal, concept or object the sentence is focusing on.
PROBLEM: barbara cook (october 25, 1927 – august 8, 2017) was an american singer and actress.

SOLUTION: barbara cook

PROBLEM: hans nowak (born 9 august, 1937) is a former german football player.

SOLUTION: hans nowak

PROBLEM: lahja tuulikki ukkola ("née" parviainen; 28 november 1943 – 28 may 2019) was a finnish politician and journalist.

SOLUTION:
tuulikki ukkola