Tribute: Larger Than Life Friday, Jun 22 2007

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing
© 2006

Julia Jean Turner
Lana Turner
1921 – 1995

A publisher for the Hollywood Reporter sat in a Los Angeles
diner called the Top Hat Café. He was the friend of an agent
that was looking for new talent. Julia Turner had decided to skip a class
across the street at Hollywood High and went into the same
iner for a Coke. The result was a chance meeting where a
business card was offered to Julia with a name on it that would
change her life. The petite and shy 15 year old was intrigued.
It was 1936 and a star had just been discovered.

After the early death of her father in a gambling dispute,
her mother struggled to provide for Julia, her only child. Julia
adored her father and became a troubled child due to his death.

At the age of fifteen Julia had a woman’s body and
appearance. Her appeal was striking. It soon brought her
unmeasured fortune and fame.

Her mother agreed to allow her to contact the agent,
Zeppo Marx. She auditioned, and was under contract with
MGM immediately. Her blond hair and blue-eyed beauty
enchanted him. He knew she would be perfect for film.
Lana, as she was now known, would go on to star in
almost sixty movies and countless plays.

Lana was at heart, a gentle and shy woman who
searched for her Father’s love throughout her life.
Being portrayed as a sex symbol both pleased and
embarrassed her. She was most upset at the nickname
“Sweater Girl” that the public branded her with due to
the tight sweater she wore in her first film.

At the same time, she was very mature for her age
with an intelligent mind. Being a stereotypical
“Blond Bombshell” of the era was inevitable, but she also
let people know that she knew the business. Labels and
assumptions angered her.

Love didn’t come easy nor did it last long for Lana.
She married eight times in her life with most of her marriages
lasting just a few years. Only one would produce a child.
Her daughter Cheryl was born with a genetic disease that
required a long hospital stay. Cheryl survived her early illness
and grew up to be as lovely as her mother.

Dealing with Lana’s relationships was something the studio
heads had a hard time with. The negative publicity was known
to ruin box office sales of their films. They often had to scramble
to repair her image. After being under contract with MGM for
28 years, it was agreed that they should part ways.

Searching for love brought a man of questionable character
into her life. A major scandal erupted when Cheryl was forced to
defend her mother one night and Lana’s boyfriend was murdered.
Cheryl was acquitted of the crime, but the damage to them both
had been done. Lana missed the protection that being with a
studio provided during this time. Her career was slowing down;
this tragic event just hastened the process.

In the early 1980’s she was ready to retire. If anyone had
reason to be tired it was Lana Turner. While most stars worked
on one or two films a year, Lana often took on twice that amount.
It was time for a quieter life.

Sightings of her became rare as she chose to become a
recluse. Her days were spent with her faithful maid of 44 years.
She was content to be free of studios and husbands telling her
what to do. Lana succumbed to cancer in 1995. She fought just
as hard for her life as she had for her fame.

In true Hollywood style Lana Turner is a legend. Fans worldwide
will always love her deeply. We are fortunate to have her library of
films to remind us of her glamorous style and innate talent as an
actress. Lana’s personal life was also a part of her appeal. We could
relate with her struggles and root for her to succeed. Her exquisite
beauty and gentle fragility added the incentive.

Annie Thomas-Burke

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Tribute: A Simple Life, Well Lived Thursday, Jun 21 2007

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing
© 2006

A Simple Life, Well Lived
Willie Moree Hicks
1936 – 1997

She was the child of a sawmill worker, and a stay at
home Mother. They lived a simple country life in South Carolina.
Their massive vegetable gardens were used both as food for the
family and a small money making opportunity. It was a time
of frugality for the country. The great depression was a fact
of life. With eight children to feed, her parents struggled
daily, yet the children were well fed. They were used to hand
me down clothes and doing without. It was just the way it was.
It was common for children then to remain in school only
until they had learned enough to get a job. Willie left school
after the eight grade. Having been taught the value of work
from her parents, she dutifully began work at a hosiery mill
in North Carolina. It was the beginning of a lifetime of
factory work. She was happy to have a job.
She met my father and married at age twenty.
They began their life together in Pageland South Carolina.
Mom took a job closer to home and gave birth to the first
of three children. My father was a kind and gentle man to
the outside world. Our home life was in stark contrast to
his public image. Mom did her best to shield us from the
truth, but still we knew. Her commitment to her wedding
vows would keep her in the marriage until his death
years later.
Willie was a small woman. She stood just five feet
and two inches tall with a petite frame. She was often
asked to repeat herself; she spoke so softly. Her kindness
and strength toward others drew people to her everyday.
They sought the wisdom life had taught her.
Her life consisted of working to provide an income
for her children and coming home to work in the garden
each night. Willie repeated the lessons her own parents
had taught her with her children. There were chores to
do each day. We were also required to help water and
weed our acres of garden beds.
My Mother showed us how to not only survive hard
lessons, but also to find the good in each situation.
While she suffered in her marriage, she also became
stronger from it. She was a friend to any stranger
in a kind and honest manner.
Having fun with the simple things in life was a
lesson we all learned well. We all laughed uncontrollably
at her run away car with a faulty gearshift. She taught us
to laugh and to take life in stride. As a volunteer bus
driver for our church she once fought off a lost snake
that crawled into our church bus. She was terrified too,
but did so silently. We laughed until we cried when the
danger had passed.
My Father died in 1979 and ended her time of hardship.
Her love for him had never died. Years later she met a
wonderful man who treated her like a princess. His adoration
of her was such a gift to all of us. They remained happily
married until her death.
I lived at home until well into my thirties, helping
out where I could. She was my best friend. We discussed
topics that other people would never discuss with their
parents. I miss that in my life today most of all.
Grandchildren were her life’s reward, a gift from
children that adored her. Family was everything. Her sisters
and brothers remained a close nit family throughout her life,
often dropping in just to visit. Her simple life was a good life.
Willie enjoyed reading romance novels and true story magazine.
Perhaps they spoke to her because of the common story lines she
had lived. If asked, she would say she loved her life. Every aspect
was a lesson. Every person, an opportunity to make a friend.
From her beloved pup Midnight, to adults, to children,
she was deeply loved. This is her legacy.

Annie Thomas-Burke for Jan Hicks and Family

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Tribute: A Mother’s Lessons Sunday, Jun 17 2007

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing
© 2006

 

A Mother’s Lessons

 

Vilas Mae Langan

1936 – 2003

You could say that she was a formidable woman. Her stature and presence were something people took notice of immediately. As you met her, you could choose to be on guard, or be charmed by her ready smile. In her later years her six-foot frame would betray her need to be on the move constantly. It was her way to keep moving in spite of the challenges life brought. She had lived a hard life and it showed in every move she made. Still nothing could keep her from her volunteer duties at the local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Bingo hall.

She was one of the oldest children born into a large poverty stricken family in rural Michigan. Her father died young. Her mother worked hard to support the family on her own until her remarriage years later. My mother learned those lessons of sacrifice and hard work well. She would need those skills in her own lifetime.

Her mother insisted that each of the eleven children in her care should learn to play an instrument. School band programs were a big part of their lives. They enjoyed many nights in their living room practicing for some upcoming band event. My mother kept this deep love for music throughout her life and encouraged her own children to play as well.

As a young woman, her choices in love were not always on target. Love was lost and gained several times. She eventually found herself alone with five children to raise on her own. Hard times had led her to California, hundreds of miles from her family home. It was the early sixties, and divorce was taboo. There were hurtful stigma’s attached. She responded to this attitude as if it had been a verbal challenge. Her inner strength shone brightly. Instead of giving up, she worked her way up with only a ninth grade education from file clerk to office manager. She became the “go to” person in every organization she was a part of. It is this determination and strength that she will be remembered for.

Her health declined and she found it necessary to retire, yet she had no intention of sitting while watching the world drift by. In honor of her father’s service in the Military, she gladly gave her time to the DAV. She worked as a bookkeeper and organizer of their events while teaching other women what she knew so well.

As her child, I grew up watching her as she took on home maintenance projects that men could not do. She researched her options and set about asking questions that would enable her to do the task well. This is the greatest gift she gave to me. It is because of her that I am able to see a problem as a challenge and not an obstacle. Her strength and wisdom will remain with me as I strive to pass those traits down to my own children.

Her life touched a wide variety of people. Her success is measured in much broader terms than the all mighty dollar. The lessons she taught are invaluable. In a time when women were expected to let their husbands take care of them, she showed many women that they could rely on themselves. She taught all of us that we are much stronger than we know. “Challenge your self” was her mantra. She lived it, taught it and we are all the better for her lessons.

Annie Thomas-Burke

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Tribute: More Than A Puppeteer Tuesday, Jun 12 2007

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing
© 2006

More Than A Puppeteer

 

Jim Henson

 

1936  -  1990

     On the eve of a memorial to Jim Henson, Kermit the Frog said. "I don't know who Jim Henson is, but I've heard he has his hand in a lot of things around here." It was an attempt at humor from a puppet that had just lost his voice. Jim Henson was more than Kermit's creator. He was Kermit’s voice from the moment Jim and his future wife Jane threw together a bit of wire, green fabric and two ping pong balls. 

     Jim became a puppeteer by default. He was entranced by a new technology called Television and wanted to be a part of it. He decided to create his first puppet family, Sam and Friends using sewing skills his grandmother had taught him. He pitched his new act to a local television show and was rewarded with a three-minute piece.

     Jane and Jim went on to create Muppets Inc. They hired only the best, most creative people to work along side them. Jim had innovative ideas from the beginning. He had watched other puppeteers who stood behind standard backdrops and

knew that there was another way it could be done. He felt that if they could keep the camera on the puppet alone, it would seem more real to children. He used soft pliable fabric and rods to make his characters move. They were capable of facial expression. He called them Muppets. It is said that the name was derived from the words Puppet and Marionette.

     Jim and Jane were often booked on the Today show and other programs, but they wanted to reach more children. When Jim was approached to create a family of puppets for a new show called Sesame Street to be aired on public television, he jumped at the chance. Big Bird and his friends were created. They became an immediate hit with parents who wanted more than cartoons for their children’s viewing.

     Despite his success and reputation as an innovative puppet master and filmmaker, he struggled for years to find a production company who would buy his idea of a show based on his Muppets. No one in America ever did. A London based company finally bought his ideas and The Muppet Show hit the air. It was 1975. He had been trying for ten years.

     As the Muppets Show and Sesame Street grew in popularity, agents and stars noticed. They lobbied to be included in the program. This was unheard of at the time. Stars didn’t regularly appear on children’s programming. They avoided them. The Muppets and Sesame Street changed that. It was amazing to see Lucille Ball conversing with Oscar, or Christopher Reeve reciting the alphabet with Elmo. Something about Jim Henson’s loveable Muppets brought out the child in hundreds of stars and political figures alike.

     Jim and Jane had five children of their own while working and improving their unique band of sassy characters. Jim was a wonderful Father. His children would reflect later and admit that their only complaint was the time he had to spend away from them. He was intent on creating new technology each day, yet he also knew how to live. His colleagues are the first to say he knew the importance of family and friends. He often took his children along to work assignments to spend more time with them. He showered friends with trips and activities.

     Jane and Jim separated late in his life. It was an event that devastated everyone who knew them. They were never able to divorce each other and remained best friends until he died. She was the only woman he ever loved.

     I wasn't a young child when Jim Henson's Sesame Street became a worldwide phenomenon. I watched as my own children were taught the basics of life. From the alphabet to morals, they learned and enjoyed every moment. As parents, we knew Jim Henson could be trusted with our children. We were grateful for the help. We often laughed with them.

     While some characters were gruff or down right rude, children were never afraid. When Oscar insulted someone from his famous trashcan, children knew that he was just a naughty grouch and learned that they should never be like him. Jim innately knew what children would respond to and   created those characters for them.

     As Kermit, Miss Piggy and their friends engaged in frantic yet educational antics, children and adults were brought together to laugh. The Muppets wit was a gentle mix of appropriate humor for children, yet with enough of an adult edge to appeal to us as well. It was easy to forget that we were watching a puppet.

     His friends and colleagues say he was an infinitely patient man. He never raised his voice in anger. When he grew irritated with a film crew for goofing off, he would simply clear his throat or shuffle his foot. They knew it meant that they should get back to work. Yet he was also just as apt to be the instigator of the same behavior. He knew how to have fun, but work was always foremost on his mind.

     His dreams of taking the technology he created to new heights were realized. Yet he continued to work diligently to create new visual effects and animatronics. His work revolutionized the industry. Through it all he remained a genuinely kind man. People that knew him well would describe him as having great strength. His strength of character and his strength of will inspired those who worked with him and the people he loved.

     Frank Oz, his partner and the voice of Miss Piggy throughout the history of the Muppets, said of Jim, “He wasn’t perfect, but he is as close to it as a man can get.” He touched the people who were fortunate enough to meet him. He was a larger than life man who displayed immense compassion for children, adults and the world as a whole.

     He never complained of being tired. Perhaps in the end this inability to recognize his own human frailties is what led to the illness that took him from us. In the years since his death, his children have taken over the reigns of his company. Each displays the same energy as their Father. They continue to live the dreams he had for animatronics. They are as dedicated to educating children as their Father was.

     Sesame Street has been on the air for thirty-seven years. The Muppets fame is beyond measure. You would be hard pressed to find a person anywhere in the world who does not recognize Kermit, Miss Piggy or Elmo. All of his creations are American icons.

    It all started as a simple dream by a young man to be on television. His makeshift puppet evolved into the most successful television programming for children ever produced. His legacy lives on as we feel the gentle nature of Elmo and watch Miss Piggy chase after Kermit one more time. We must give thanks for what he gave to us all. 

     “Follow your enthusiasm. It's something I've always believed in.  Find those parts of your life you enjoy the most.  Do what you enjoy doing." -Jim Henson

 

Annie Thomas-Burke

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Tribute: Leroy Sims Friday, Sep 15 2006

This tribute is the property of Georgia Coroner’s Association
© 2006

Leroy Sims, Coroner Richmond County
1931 – 2004

Augusta Georgia native Leroy Sims wouldn’t remain a
small town boy for long. As soon as possible he
enlisted in the Army. After being wounded in Korea
with a required year long stay in the VA hospital to
recover fully, he went right back out there.

When his enlistment was up he joined the Air Force.
He would remain a career soldier until his retirement.
His desire to serve the public would never be complete
in his eyes. He immediately joined the Augusta Police
Department. Grover Tuten remembers this time well.
They enlisted in the Police force together and became
close friends.

Grover was an Assistant Coroner when he was needed.
Leroy was asked to help out as well. They worked together
for Coroner Woodward for several years. Leroy’s
retirement from the police department as a successful
homicide detective and the death of Coroner Woodward,
gave Leroy the opportunity to become Coroner of Richmond
county. It was 1985. He would run unopposed for the rest
of his life. Grover continued to work along side his good
friend for the Richmond County citizens.

Leroy Sims involvement in the Georgia Coroners Association
began early in his career. He was always ready to assist the
association in any way he was needed. He loved going to the
annual meetings. He was especially fond of the Tybee Beach
training sessions and meetings.

Leroy enjoyed his time as President of the GCA. He was most
proud of his involvement in getting the pay rate increased for
call services. It was important to him that Coroners and Deputies
be fairly compensated. We are all in his debt.

Leroy rarely found his job in viewing and pronouncing deaths
easy. He was affected by each one. He used his interests in
coin collecting to reduce his stress from his work. Leroy was
also a wonderful organist. It was common for Leroy to come
in from a case and sit down to play. He had found a way to
ease his mind in the way that we all need in this business.

The events that the Georgia Coroners Association offers each
year to it’s members was one of Leroy’s favorite vacations.
He loved them all, but Richard Stanley’s winter get together was
by far the place he enjoyed the most.

Leroy was named Coroner of the year in 1995.
His two terms as President of the association saw great
progress and rewards under his command. The association now
honors other Coroner’s or Deputy Coroner’s with an award named
in memory of him. The Leroy Sims Distinguished Service Award
is decided by the executive committee each year.

Leroy was a gentle giant, a man we all looked up to and admired.
Rest well Leroy. Thank you for everything you did for the GCA.

Annie Thomas-Burke 2006

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Tribute: Ronnie Stewart Friday, Sep 15 2006

This tribute is the property of Georgia Coroner’s Association
© 2006

Coroner Of Henry County,
Ronnie Stewart with his wife Jackie,
1946 – 2005

A young man barely out of high school found himself
employed by the local funeral home in Henry county.
This would be the start of his lifelong career in the
service of others. Ronnie Stewart was that man. He found
his greatest strength in the compassion that came so
easily to him. His experience with the funeral home led
to a commitment to help others in their hour of grief.
Ronnie would go on to serve his community for the rest of
his life.

When asked, Ronnie took on the role of Battalion Chief
for the county Fire Department. Ronnie taught EMS classes
and served as EMS director when they needed someone to
step in to fill a void. It was during one of these classes
that an event occured that would change his life forever.

Ronnie left to answer an emergency call and was struck by a
passing car. Ronnie was paralyzed from the waist down. This
tragic event would have ended the career of a lesser person.
Ronnie was back at work as Coroner six months later.

Through it all, his loving wife Jackie stood by his side and
marveled at his strength. His community and it’s leaders were
equally impressed. Those that knew Ronnie wouldn’t have
expected any less of him. Ronnie was a man of amazing strength
and determination. He had not yet helped everyone he could.
He knew that he had to get out there and continue his work.

He would humbly say that it was the voters of his county that kept
him working. He was a gentle giant that people loved. They speak
of Ronnie to this day as their big brother, their father figure.
The voters knew a genuine caring person when they saw it and
continued to reelect Ronnie for 35 years.

Ronnie once said; “I get a great deal of satisfacion when I can
make things a little easier for a bereaved family”.
His ability to do just that with little effort is what drew
people to him.

Serving as the Georgia Coroners Association Secretary and
Treasurer for several years was his pleasure. He held a deep
fondness for the GCA and believed in it’s mission. He believed
in America. He was known to get choked up by the American flag.
He was the type of man that wasn’t afraid to show emotion.
Whether it was at a game of his beloved Falcons or watching
a television show with Jackie. He felt everything deeply.

As Ronnie’s health declined he prepared his final days and
planned his funeral as well. His idea was to be driven to
his final resting place in the back of the antique fire
truck that he had been instrumental in restoring.
As his convoy traveled through the town square, they drove
it’s streets in reverse. Just as Ronnie would have wanted.

It is a great honor for the Georgia Coroners Association to
name this tribute page in dedication of Ronnie Stewart.
His contributions to his community and the GCA will be remembered
throughout history. We are honored to have known him.
He was our friend. He was our brother. He will always be missed.
May we all remember his lessons and strive to continue his gentle work.

Annie Thomas-Burke 2006

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Lessons From The Road Thursday, Jul 6 2006

Lessons From The Road

As a golden haired child, I lived in California. Long before it became the Silicon Valley, it was my home. Our extended family lived in Michigan. My first memory of my grandmother is encased in a warm feeling. Her home was the destination of each great adventure we took as a family. She was the gift that we received after our three-day journey from our home to hers in Pullman Michigan. We made this trek every few years. Five children and my mother piled into her beloved Bonneville.

We traveled night and day; stopping at rest areas or truck stops to let my mother get some sleep. We slept as well as we could with three or four sets of legs struggling for space. During the day, rest areas were our playground as we were set free while mom slept on a blanket under a tree. Motels were not an option financially. We were occasionally excited to be treated to restaurant food. More often than not we ate from a cooler in the trunk filled with apples, bologna sandwiches and Kool-aid. I never remember wishing for it to be any different. It was just the way it was. We were thrilled to be on a trip. We played the license plate game and listened to music. We were the family you still occasionally see stopping at each state sign for a picture, or just slowing down to honk. I still honk today as I mark those moments with my own family.

My mother was impressive in her ability to wrangle five children across America. It was the sixties, other women were afraid to travel alone. She showed no fear. I can’t imagine driving all that way alone with five children today. As an adult I grew to appreciate how much it took out of her to do this. She made sure that we saw amazing sites as we traveled each road. We learned how wide each state was, how to read a map and watch for that next town. I’m sure that we were naughty at times, although I remember only joyful moments. Our excitement to be traveling to see the relatives we so rarely saw remained constant throughout the trip. We were impossibly giddy when we entered my grandmother’s small town.

We invariably arrived in the middle of the night. gram would come to the door partially awake, but somehow dressed, her hair in place. She pulled each of us into an embrace that was impressively solid despite her small frame. Her home was warm and cozy with an ever-flowing coffee pot. As my mother and grandmother sat down to share news of the road, relatives and life I too settled in to listen. Soon she would rise and prepare a massive feast. Grandpa Phil lived there as well. He was gram’s second husband and not my mother’s “real” dad, but he was real to her and to us. He made shotgun shells in the garage for hunting. Being the child of a single mother, I had never witnessed such a thing. I was impressed and intrigued. When I was allowed to, I was honored to help pull the lever on the shell machine. To my grandmother’s dismay, my grandfather drove a motorcycle. Mom allowed him to take us for rides. I became his riding buddy often when he needed to get away. Pullman was a small town, with one stoplight, one store and a local tavern. We traveled to the local tavern and he introduced me to his friends. I was given 10 cents to get a cold bottle of coke out of the machine. It was my introduction to coke machines. I was in heaven. Grandpa Phil became an important man in my life. He is my first remembered father figure. Other men would be weighed by his example.

Our time was spent visiting relatives and getting to know new cousins. Usually these visits evolved into impromptu family reunions. My aunts would all get together and plan menus and events. Often these reunions were more formally planned as major events. We would meet at a local park near Lake Michigan or a church community center. Each mother would prepare dishes to pass; while children ran wild or played a game of baseball together. We learned who our family members were; they came to know us as well. After our day, we would go back to gram’s house to collapse on the carefully made rollaway beds and sleeper sofas. I always chose the bed that was tucked into an alcove at the rear of the kitchen. I could listen to Mom and Gram talking and sipping coffee into the night. Soothed into slumber by their familiar voices.

Snow was an added bonus if we were lucky enough to arrive during winter. Icicles three feet long and several inches in diameter hung from the eaves begging to be broken off. We savored each lick until it was too cold to do so. Snowball fights and all the goodness that snow brings to small children highlighted our days. It was during one such visit that the phone rang as I came in from playing in the snow. I answered it and heard the person on the other end ask me if Evelyn was there. I didn’t know whom they wanted and thought perhaps it was a wrong number. I held the phone out and asked my mother if she knew anyone named Evelyn. I was told that it was my grandmother’s name. She had always just been Gram to me. I felt ashamed not to know. A few years later, when my mom decided to move us from California to Michigan she stated that I was one of the reasons why. I had not known my grandmothers name which had disturbed her. She wanted us to know our grandparents.

They are all gone now; my grandfather went first, gram died a few months later. Mom fought hard against cancer but lost in 2003. How my world has changed. The lessons they taught remain. I adored my grandmother and grandfather beyond words. Those trips across the country are some of the most profound moments in my life. Both because of what I learned and what I saw. Learning who my grandparents are and loving them so completely filled me with warmth I had not known previously. As the child of a single mother living hundreds of miles away from her family, meeting my extended family meant everything. My own children repeated the journey many times with me in their childhood. Perhaps someday they too will travel home to visit me, bringing grandchildren that I will envelope in a gentle hug.

Annie Thomas Burke

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Tribute: The Starlet That Wore Pants Thursday, Jun 22 2006

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing
© 2006

Katharine Houghton Hepburn
1907 – 2003

My earliest memory of this feisty woman, that I would come to know as Katharine Hepburn, came as I watched Little Women. I found her to be fascinating. She was unlike other actresses of her time. She was loud, opinionated and utterly charming all the while. I soon found that I was not alone in my opinions. Millions more adored her too.

Katharine’s parents taught her to be independent, to discuss the deep issues and to speak her mind. They lived by those same principals. They lived in a stately home in Connecticut where her father, Dr. Thomas Hepburn was a successful urologist. Her mother Katharine (Kit) was heavily involved in women’s suffrage and family planning issues Mrs. Hepburn co-founded Planned Parenthood. Their dinners were loud and informative. Her parents encouraged lively debates nightly among her five brothers and sisters.

Her brother Tom Hepburn was two years older, the eldest child in the family. When Katharine was fifteen years old she found him hanging in the barn. She was never able to believe he had committed suicide. Years later she would admit to being two years younger than she had always claimed to be. She had taken her brother Tom’s birth date as her own to honor him. It was an event that she never recovered from entirely.

Dr. Hepburn insisted on his children being athletic. Katharine excelled at sports. She was adept at swimming, golf, tennis and figure skating. She once won a bronze medal in Figure skating from the Madison Square Garden figure skating club. Swimming and golf were sports she remained involved in heavily throughout her life. She would continue to swim in the frigid waters in Connecticut until well into her eighties. Sometimes breaking the ice to do so. She believed it kept her healthy.

While attending Bryn Mawr College, she met her future husband, Ludlow (“Luddy”) Ogden Smith. They married in 1928 when she finished college. She had achieved degrees in history and philosophy. That same year she landed a bit part on Broadway in Night Hostess. As an aspiring actress, she did not want to be know as Kate Smith. There was already a entertainer with that name. She demanded that her husband change his name. He became S. Ogden Ludlow. In the end Katharine decided to use her Maiden name. Their marriage was rocky from the start. Katharine would later say that marriage is an unnatural state. She is known to have once quipped, “Women and Men should live separately and visit often.” She believed every word to be true. They divorced six years after they married. Katharine would never marry again.

The four Oscars and twelve nominations she earned throughout her extensive career are proof of how much she was loved as an actress. One would never believe that in the early stages of her career she was blacklisted and labeled “box office poison”. Ever resilient, Katharine left Hollywood and return to Broadway until she could stage a comeback. Upon her return, she auditioned for a major film titled, A Bill Of Divorcement. In true Hepburn fashion, she demanded an outlandish $1,500 per week for film work. She had been earning just eighty dollars a week. After seeing her screen test, studio executives agreed to her demands.

In the 1930’s, with backing from her ex-boyfriend Howard Hughes, she bought the rights to a play she had starred in. Her performance in that film, The Philadelphia Story would bring her an Oscar nomination. Women of the time just didn’t do such things as that. Women didn’t buy stories and have them made; they dutifully did as they were told.

Defying tradition was the norm for Ms. Hepburn. She was outspoken in defense of herself, but also in defense of others. If she saw something that was unfair, she made sure to voice her opinion. She was gifted with a classic patrician beauty, and was a favorite with directors in spite of what they considered to be her loud mouth.

In 1942 she fell in love with Spencer Tracy. It was a controversial affair. He was a married man. They met while starring in the film Woman Of The Year. Their relationship would last until his death thirty years later. His strict Roman Catholic beliefs prevented him for divorcing his wife. It was agreed that they would be as discreet as possible out of respect for his wife. Katharine was content to be the love of his life. They would go on to become the most beloved couple in film, starring together in nine movies throughout their careers. Spencer Tracy is said to be the only person in her life that could quiet her. She literally sat at his feet gazing up at him as he spoke. Their chemistry on screen and off was captivating to see. Even the many critics who condemned them were won over by their deep affection for each other.

Just days after completing the film Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, Spencer Tracy died. Out of respect for his wife and family, she did not attend his funeral. Ms. Hepburn always maintained that she never watched the film. It was just too painful.

Men loved this beautiful woman on the screen. Women admired her strength. They wanted to be as brash as she was. Her ability to not worry what others thought of her was envied. She wore pants almost exclusively long before it was the fashion to do so. Her reputation as an often-cantankerous star never bothered her. It was, in her opinion, very near sighted to object to strong women speaking their mind. It would not be possible for her to be any less; she was raised to be just as she was. She wouldn’t apologize for it.

Ms. Hepburn once said of her early ambition: “I didn’t have any desire to be an actress or to learn how to act. I just wanted to be famous.” The limelight thrilled her. Yet she wasn’t known to steal it. She often stood up for lesser-known actors. On the set of Adam’s Rib, she refused a close-up because the other female lead should have been featured. Her generosity was legendary. In an interview with Christopher Reeve he stated, “She used to say to me, “Be fascinating, Christopher,” and I’d say, “Well, that’s easy for you. The rest of us have to work at it.” She was fascinating to everyone who knew her.

In all the years of televised Oscar award shows, she only appeared once. To give a lifetime achievement award away. If she was the winner, someone else always accepted for her. One such award stayed in the paper bag that she suggested storing it in, on her living room table for over ten years. It meant little to her to be accepted in such a way. She would have been more impressed by an award for her character, not her acting.

While she was always somewhat reclusive away from cameras she became more so as she aged. Her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut became her haven. Friends were frequently invited in, but Katharine rarely left home. Her gardens, hobbies and friends became her only outlets. She was also an avid painter and sculptor. A bust she sculpted of Spencer Tracy was used in their last film together.

She had never wanted to have children. She believed that she would have been a terrible mother. Her siblings gave her nieces and nephews; they adored her and visited often. Several of them have followed in her footsteps and are actors today.

She was 96 years old when she died of natural causes. In honor of her extensive theater work, the bright lights of Broadway were dimmed for an hour. Lauren Bacall said of her friend; “Time with her was more than time well spent. A little bit with her was worth days and weeks and months with somebody else.”

Annie Thomas- Burke

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Protected: What I want Saturday, Jun 17 2006

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Tribute: Almost Heaven Saturday, Jun 17 2006

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing
© 2006

Almost Heaven

 

John Denver

 

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.

 

1943 –1997

 

     Most of us know his name, we know he was a singer, but lesser known was his life as an environmentalist and a humanitarian. Yes, he was a great singer and entertainer. We know he loved the Rocky Mountains. It is a fact that in his lifetime he recorded and released nearly 300 songs, about 140 of which he had written. He was so much more than a singer and songwriter. His work touched and changed a world.

     He was a rare and wonderful combination of gifted performer and an extraordinary man who cared deeply for the environment. In 1976 he co-founded Windstar Foundation, an environmental organization. The non-profit environmental education and research center strives for a healthy future for the world. He felt his celebrity would draw greater visibility to the environmental causes he championed.

     In 1977 President Jimmy Carter asked him to serve as a member of the President’s Commission on World and Domestic Hunger. He took it one step further and personally co-founded The Hunger Project. Continuing his commitment to the people of the world.

     The child of an Air Force family, his upbringing included moving to various cities in the southwest. He was a shy awkward child who kept to himself. At a young age his grandmother gave him a Gibson acoustic guitar. It became an extension of his body as he carried it wherever he went. He wrote his first song shortly after receiving it. This simple song titled, A Lazy Little Stream, gave birth to his merging of music and nature that would become his trademark style.

    As a young man, while attending Texas Tech University, he began performing in local clubs. His popularity grew quickly, which encouraged him to quit school much to his parent’s dismay. He auditioned for and became a member of The Mitchell Trio as their acoustic guitarist. Friends encouraged him to change his name so it would fit on record labels. He adopted the name Denver in honor of the home he loved.

     The Mitchell Trio’s popularity decreased and John decided to go solo. He bravely moved to Los Angeles. Still shy, he spent many days writing alone while performing in small clubs in the evenings to pay the bills. His big break came when Peter, Paul and Mary recorded a song he wrote called Leaving on a Jet Plane. He was on his way.

     His gentle, environmentally conscious music established him as a beloved folk singer of the 70’s to most people, while others panned his work as saccharine and dull. His fan base grew nonetheless, and in time his work would bring him world-renowned fame. Even those who criticized him knew his songs by heart. There was just something about his music that drew people in. A kindness we all longed for in music and in the world. We found it in his music gratefully.

     Ever present on his mind was his love for his home and family. He met and married Annie in 1967, and they brought two children into their lives and moved back to Colorado to raise them. John’s music continued to speak fondly of his home and the people there. 

     As his fame grew, he paid little attention to the hype. He continued his work for The Windstar Foundation, as well as established a new venture, Windsong Recording. His environmental causes continued to consume him more than his celebrity. This would remain true for the rest of his life. He balanced both aspects of his life with an ease that those around him admired.

     Jim Henson, the puppeteer and creator of the Muppets, became one of John’s best friends. John agreed to perform on Jim’s new Muppets show against the advice of others. It was said that it would only encourage his critics to see him as too sweet. He did it anyway. It was something John would continue to do whenever he was asked. He loved children and they were drawn to him. Each of his televisions specials featured children gazing admirably up as they watched him sing. This was true for adults as well. He touched us like few entertainers did. We believed in goodness through him.

     While he successfully maintained parallel careers as an entertainer and a humanitarian, he also added television and feature film acting to his resume. His soft-spoken gentle manner transferred to film well and those efforts too, brought acclaim. It was as if he couldn’t lose.

    As his overwhelming fame lessened, he gladly settled into a quieter life. Shortly thereafter the world was saddened to learn of his divorce from Annie. John was said to be devastated and withdrew to his home. He took up golf, and often gave his time to participate in golf tournament benefits.

     Few knew he was also an avid painter. When his travels took him from his easel, he brought along his cameras. His first photography showing was a benefit for the Windstar Foundation.

      John remarried a singer named Cassandra Delaney and they had a daughter together. That marriage too, would be ill fated. He had been a pilot since the 70’s and returned to it with a flourish. He had always been in love with being in the clouds. It brought home to him the need to protect our environment. His work as a champion for nature took on an increased importance. 

     John continued appearing on the television specials of other celebrities as well as hosting his own. He cast a spell among his viewers. We had no choice but to be taken in. He won many awards in his career. His music garnered fourteen gold albums and eight platinum albums in the U.S alone. In 1996 John was thrilled to be inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

     Today, millions of fans remain entranced by his work. His music is more relevant than ever before as our world continues to need what he stood for. His humanitarian work continues to strengthen our world and lives on after him. He gave us many gifts during his time here. His life should be an inspiration to us all.

     He died doing what he loved, soaring among the clouds. It was his wish to die doing what he loved. While we are saddened at the loss of him, we are fortunate to have the work he left behind. It was always meant to be his gift to us. His voice continues to encourage us to take care of the world we live in, and the people in it. 

 

Annie Thomas-Burke

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Tribute: My Best Friend Was My Sister Saturday, Jun 17 2006

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© 2006

My Best Friend Was My Sister

 

Barbara Ledy Ann Butts-Sewell

1954 – 2004

 

     As a child my sister Barbara found a stranded baby bird. She carried it around for days in a shoebox, stopping frequently to feed it from an eyedropper. She was pulled by an inner kindness to rescue animals. Later in life, she did the same for children. This is who my sister was. It is the loss of her gentle nature that makes her death the most devastating event in my life.

     We were born into a large family and sadly we experienced early tragedy in the death of our father. Our mother made the brave decision to start over somewhere new after his death. We left our home in Alabama and made our way to southern California. Mother met and married a wonderful man who became our father in ever sense of the word.

     Barbara was a strong, yet tiny child with blue eyes and blond hair that danced in the sun. Our older brothers pestered her frequently, as brothers are apt to do. At the age of three, after becoming frustrated with them, she turned to them and said; “I’m just going outside to cool off.”  She spoke her mind even as a small child. This trait would never change.

     California remained her home for most of her life. She met and married a man with three sons. They became her sons as well. Her life was filled with children, her Church and an ever-changing pet family. She was a favorite Sunday school teacher and camp counselor to children. Her church family was very dear to her. Children were drawn to her, they knew she could be trusted with their hearts. It was the same for adults. She was always ready with a listening ear, a hug or a joke.

     One year on Fathers day, while preparing for a church breakfast for the men, she decided she would just go in her pajamas. She had a plan to make them laugh. She took her class along with her. They wore their pajamas too. The men were stunned and had a great laugh. They had learned to expect anything from Barbara. It was just her way.

     Her days were spent in the service of others. She began each day doing her housework before going to the church to set up her classroom. She was a full time mother and volunteered for the local women’s shelter as well. A crafter at heart, she enjoyed crocheting and various arts and crafts. Simple things like a night of bowling with her family were enough to complete her. Her life was, as she was, gentle with hints of whimsy.

     I was blessed that she was my sister. We remained best friends throughout our lives. It was our habit to talk daily. Each night before she went to bed I would expect her call. We would discuss the day and go over what tomorrow would bring. We supported each other as sisters and friends should.

     Barbara would say that she lived a good life. There were struggles of course, but nothing that her and faith could not withstand. When she was diagnosed with the Cancer that would take her from us, she thought only of others. Her will to survive and faith in God were strong, but she was fighting a battle she could not win. When it was decided that there would be no cure to save her, she apologized for not being able to beat it. She felt sorrow that she would not be here to help me with our aging parents. I struggled to convince her to let us take care of her. She thought only of others to the end. 

     My best friend was my sister. Occasionally I still find myself listening for her call. I am then struck by the weight of reality as I remember that the call won’t come. We are blessed to have been touched by her life. To write her legacy is simple. One word is all you need. Love.       

     

     Annie Thomas-Burke for Linda Butts-Worley and family

 

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Tribute: The First Lady of Television Saturday, Jun 17 2006

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing
© 2006

The First Lady of Television

Lucille Desiree Ball

1911 – 1989

There are moments, as a television viewer, that we all share collectively. Lucy gave us many of those moments. Scenes that either touched our hearts or made us laugh. Few others had her gift for comedic timing. She had an amazing ability to tell a story with her facial expressions alone. We knew women who were like her characters; the housewife, the manipulator, the drama queen and even the femme fatale. We adored Lucy, just as she knew we would. We enjoyed every moment and looked forward to what Lucy would do each week.

Her place in history is firmly cemented, but not as an actress alone. Her contributions to women in film are profoundly felt. Lucy managed the successful production company Desilu. Desi held a lesser role, and when they divorced years later Lucy bought Desi’s share. She became the first female to head a production company in America. Her Desilu Productions went on to produce many hit sitcoms of the time. Among them were Make Room For Daddy, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Star Trek.

She had come a long way from the girl who was known as the “Queen of B’s”. Referring to her many B grade films of the thirties and forties. She was just happy to be working. Teachers and directors had cast her aside as an untalented actress. Undaunted, she took a job as a Chesterfield girl model. She was determined to break into show business. No one could hold Lucy back for long.

Her Mother and Grandparents in New York raised her after the death of her father at age three. Her mother was pregnant with her brother Fred at the time. Lucy spent many hours listening to radio shows while dreaming of an actress’s life. The radio was her training ground for the timing and delivery style that would later win her fame.

At fifteen she began traveling into New York City to audition for roles. She faced many rejections before any doors opened for her. Eventually Metro Goldwyn Mayer signed her to a contract and promptly dyed her sandy brown hair red. She would remain a red head for the rest of her life.

As a “Goldwyn Girl” she acted in dozens of small films with equally small roles. She was told that she wasn’t the leading lady type. On one such film titled, Too Many Girls she met Desi Arnaz and promptly eloped with him. It was Desi who urged her to audition for television roles.

She had fulfilled her childhood dream of being a radio show actress. It was her radio show role on My Favorite Husband that gave her the idea to pitch the same story line for a television show. Domestic comedies were just coming to television, and she wanted in on it. The executives however, did not like the choice of her husband as her leading man. They believed he wouldn’t be popular, and doubted if anyone would be able to understand his heavy accent. Lucy insisted that he would be a hit and set out to prove it to the executives. In true Lucy style she took the act on the road. When it was a sell out hit, the network relented and gave her a show.

It was as a comedian that Lucy truly came alive. Behind the comedian’s mask, she was rarely the clown that people assumed she was. Her producer’s skills were well honed. While we laughed at the, now classic, Vitameatavegamin skit and cried as she told Ricky she was “expecting”; behind the scenes Lucy lobbied for her show. She fought the executives to appear pregnant on television. Even going so far as to get religious leaders approval. They allowed the storyline in, but only if the word pregnant was not used. Lucy complied.

After several miscarriages, Lucy gave birth to a daughter that she named Lucie. She was 40 years old. A year later she gave birth to their son Desi. Ironically she was in labor with her son when the groundbreaking birth episode aired on the television show. Lucy struggled as a parent. The children would endure a tumultuous relationship with her throughout Lucy’s life. Lucy’s best friends included Ginger Rogers, Vivian Vance and other women that were childless. It was difficult for Lucy to balance the two sides of her life. She loved them deeply but didn’t fully connect with them.

Desi Sr. was becoming increasingly unmanageable as his drinking increased. It was decided that they would stop filming I Love Lucy while it was still a hit show. In time, Lucy and Desi would file for divorce. They remained dear friends for the rest of his life. Lucy would come to Desi’s aid many times over the years. He remained the one great love of her life.

In 1962 Gary Morton, a stand up comic 12 years her junior, became her second husband. They worked together at Desilu Productions. He became closely involved in the management of his wife's career. Gary also produced Lucy’s new show with Vivian Vance, The Lucy Show. America had missed her slapstick comedy on television and this show too, was a solid success.

Shortly thereafter, Lucy sold Desilu Productions and founded Lucille Ball Productions. She was a tough boss by all accounts. It was often remarked that she expected a lot from her employees. They also had to admit that she worked just as hard in return. Her strength as a female executive was met with unflattering remarks from male executives who struggled to keep the business strictly a men’s club. Her brash nature unsettled them. Her strength was intimidating.

While we do indeed love Lucy, it is the executive Lucille Ball that most women should learn from. Her commitment to equal rights in the film industry allows those who walk her paths today an easier stroll. While she struggled with motherhood in her private life, her pregnancy on the I Love Lucy Show was a lesson for all women. We learned that being pregnant didn’t mean you had to hide. You could be a mother and work too. We learned we could have the best of both worlds through her example.

As she settled into a quieter life, a little network television movie she agreed to be cast in became a critically acclaimed hit. The Stone Pillow showcased Lucy’s serious side. Her bag lady character struck a cord with viewers. This late success encouraged Lucy to star in another television comedy. She was saddened when it was not well received. It would be her last visit to our televisions in a series. She appeared on the 61st Annual Academy Awards show in March 1989. In April of that same year Lucy died.

For 25 years Lucille Ball ruled the television with a series of family comedies created to showcase her talents. She was a five-time Emmy award winner, the first woman inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame, a recipient of a many awards and a Kennedy Center Honoree. She is perhaps the most adored of all television stars.

We are the recipients of her craft. Her work lives on and continues to make us smile. Technology allows us to share her gifts with our children. Her fan base grows as her talents transcend generations. We are still able to gather together and watch as Lucy stomps grapes, stuffs candy down her dress and causes Ricky to say yet again, “Lucy you have some splaining to do.”

Annie Thomas-Burke

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Protected: A journey through a lie. Monday, Jun 5 2006

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