It is always sad when a celebrity or athlete we are familiar with passes. Sometimes it is perhaps expected due to illness or age but it still comes as a shock. Somehow we feel these blessed people will live forever. These are some that I felt the loss of this past year.
Prince Phillip's passing hurt not so much for me but I hated that the Queen was left without her life long companion of over 70 years. I always viewed them as a true love story.
Norm MacDonald was a favorite comedian. He could crack me up and was too young to go.
Bobby Bowden, the Florida State long time football coach who was as known for his cute swear word of "Dadgummit" as he was for his winning ways. Always liked Bobby.
Hank Aaron, what a baseball player. He surpassed the famed Babe Ruth's long held home run record. I remember the day he out did the Babe by hitting number 715. I cheered for him then but hated the abuse he took because it was a black man who passed the Babe.
Whenever I would hear of one of the great's deaths, a heavy sadness would come over me. A soft "Awww" would escape my lips and I would remember why they were important to me.
HOWEVER, when I heard of Betty White's leaving us recently, I shouted a "NOOOOOO" so loud that I am sure my neighbors heard. Scared my dog.
There had been so much coverage of her upcoming 100th birthday. This seemed so UNFAIR. Come on, she just needed a couple of more weeks. I was a fan of her comedy when I found the Golden Girls in reruns and enjoyed her stent in Hot In Cleveland but was also a fan of the work she did for animal rights. She could make me laugh or make me dig in my purse for a donation. It is actually hard to find someone who didn't like her. Sigh. You will be missed Betty. You made me laugh and warmed my heart.
Have you had a famous person's death affected you deeply?
This was sweet of you Patti, and it's nice to hear some love for Prince Philip, I always wondered if he got his "fair due". I was sad to see Betty White go too, so close to her 100th. I grew up watching her on Mary Tyler Moore & on Password with her husband Allen Ludden. They had a great love story too. Anyway, I was very sad to see Sidney Poitier's passing. Loved him in 'To Sir with Love' and 'Raisin in the Sun' and 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'. His real character shone thru in all of them.
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteIt seems that lately too many are dying. Someone everyday. Don't remember it being like this. So many and they are all being missed. I think I saw all of Poitier's movies and thought he was wonderful in them all. He was a real class act.
I was so sad to learn Betty passed. I thought for sure it was a hoax at first. Princess Di and J.F.K Jr. were shocking to me. I was bummed about Maya Angelou too. I always thought I would meet her one day.
ReplyDeleteSue,
DeleteI know with Princess Di and J.F.K. Jr, they were in the prime of life which made it so hard to accept. I adored Maya Angelou. How wonderful it would have been to meet her and even more, to sit down with her. Quite the amazing mind.
I was sad that Betty didn't make it to her 100th. She was a great comedic actor and a great human being.
ReplyDeleteJFK's and John Lennon's killings effected me the deepest of any famous person death. You can't help wonder how the world had been a different place if they'd been able to grow old.
Jean,
DeleteI think JFK was the first I became aware of as pure shock and disbelief. I so know where I was when that happened.
John Lennon was such a gentle, talented man and such a loss.
It was such sad news to read of Betty White's death. She was such a role model for a good long humorous life. I immediately thought of John Lennon in answer to your question. Then I thought of Martin Luther King, JFK, and RFK.
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteI miss all them also. The horror of their loss was that it was due to violence. For a long time I wondered just what had become of us that these things could happen. Were we lost? Still not sure.
If it helps, I read somewhere that if you add in the days from leap years, Betty actually was 100 years old. I know, it's not how we measure time but for her I think we'd make an exception. I loved her in Golden Girls.
ReplyDeleteI think Princess Diana is the one death that shocked me the most. Her son, Prince William was born just six months after my daughter. I guess I felt a sense of kinship for that reason.
My daughter and I were chatting this morning, and she mentioned Bob Saget's untimely passing. She grew up watching him in the show Full House, and then in Funniest Home Videos. I remember him too, but it is his age, 65, that bothers me the most.
Eileen,
DeleteWish someone had whispered it in her ear before passing that she actually made it.
I too was deeply shocked by Diana's death. The old like Betty had long useful lives, but so many are cut needlessly short and that really hurts.
Hmm...good one. Betty's made me especially sad. I adored her from Sue Ann nivens to Hot in Cleveland and every password show. But I think it was Eddie Van Halen for me that rocked me. My generation.
ReplyDeletePeg,
DeleteShe had the talent of telling a slightly bawdy joke with such an innocent face which made it all the funnier.
Eddie was a shock also and when those that pass are from your generation, that hits much closer. It is like losing a sibling.
My reaction was the very same of Betty White's passing. I tend to feel a tender spot in my heart tho, that now she is with the love of her life...Allen Ludden. It was a life long love affair of what dreams are made of, I think.
ReplyDeleteNow it's the passing of an icon...Sidney Poitier!!! Leaving an empty spot in the kingdom of Hollywood greats.
Anni,
DeleteIt just seems to be a new loss every day.
I did read that Betty's last word was "Allen". That makes me happy that he was waiting for her and they are together again.
I so agree with you. I adored Betty White! She made me laugh. She was a good person, too.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteYes, she was funny and good. Those attributes not always applied to the same person.
I was only sad about Betty White because she missed her 100th by a couple weeks. Otherwise, living a healthy and active life until 99, then dying in one's sleep seems like a perfect way to go. Where do I sign up? Younger people dying always hurts since they should have so much more life and experiences. Bob Saget was my age which shocks me more.
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteI know, she led a splendid life. Though she lost the love of her life, they had many years together.
Bob Saget was a shock. The first thought is usually, "he was too young."
Like everyone, I loved Betty, thought she would live forever, or at last outlive me. We also lost John Madden. On the plus side just today marked the passing of the million-aire asshat murderer Robert Durst.
ReplyDeletejoeh,
DeleteYeah, I miss Madden too. I enjoyed him as a commentator.
Thanks for the breaking news about Durst. I hadn't heard. That might be the shortest life sentence ever served. He was only sentenced last month.
For some I say he went too soon. For him I say, "what took so long."
Very sad to hear of the death of Betty White, so close to her 100th birthday. She always seemed so on the ball - full of life and humour.
ReplyDeleteAMKT,
DeleteShe always looked so mischievous with a twinkle in her eye, even when delivering a zinger. Except for missing the 100th celebration, she wasn't cheated. She had a grand life.
I was so glad Betty got to live a full life. She apparently had a stroke six days before she died, and she passed peacefully. I mourn those whose lives were cut short so much more than those who had the full measure of life. Like MLK, JFK, Chadwick Boseman at 43. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteI know, it seems so sad when lives are cut short. Betty I'm sure felt she was one lucky lady and she certainly took advantage of her years.
So many great Talents and Icons die prematurely and one always wonders what they might have contributed more of had they grown Old? I had Hoped Betty may have made it to 100... rather some ironic Comedic Timing she just barely didn't, after all the hype and publications done in advance about it.
ReplyDeleteBohemian,
DeleteThat is what bothered me. Not that she died for she had a wonderful life but that she just didn't quite make it after all the press. She was known for her timing:)
I hadn't realised Betty White was so close to being 100, until she died and the news was full of her.
ReplyDeleteI was deeply upset several years ago when an Australian rock musician/actor died, when I was much younger he was my first crush and in later years I actually met him twice by going backstage for an autograph.
But Betty has a WORLD full of people who will miss her.
River,
DeleteLosing that rock musician had to have hurt. He was a crush but you also got to meet him. That made it very personal.
I am surprised how far Betty's talents reached around the world.
The passing of individuals that were honorable AND talented in my younger years makes me sad because it seems many celebrities and others in the news regularly lack concern for and respect for others.
ReplyDeleteLC,
DeleteI think the enormous media coverage celebrities get today exposes darker sides that we weren't aware of years ago.
As a youngster, I always wanted to visit the White House. After JFK died, I lost the desire to go inside the White House.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to see Elvis and Louis Armstrong in person, but never did. I've seen Kenny Rogers and Bette Midler in person, along with Air Supply.
Check your local movie theaters for the Fantom Events: the Betty White 100 year movie is still having it's special showing on her January 17th birthday in 900 theatres across the country. I got my ticket before she died. PBS just had a 2018 documentary 2 nights ago on Betty White. Linda in Kansas
Linda,
DeleteI did get to see Elvis when he was just starting out. He came to a local theater in Florida and sang Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Moon. That was it. I would have enjoyed seeing Kenny Rogers and Bette Midler.
Darn, missed the PBS show on Betty. Hopefully it will rerun.
I said the same thing when I heard about Betty White. I was so expecting her to make 100. I was sad about Sidney Poitier and Desmond Tutu too. We've lost so many great people.
ReplyDeleteKay,
DeleteIt just wasn't fair was it? Me too about Desmond Tutu, I was a fan of that funny, amazing religious leader.
Passing away of a celebrity sure takes something away from us...may be its part of our happy memory !
ReplyDeleteashok,
DeleteI think you nailed it. I know that is true for myself anyway.
I couldn't believe Betty passed before her gala - well, we will celebrate and remember her anyway. At least she lived a full life. When people die young I'm especially sad whether I know them or not.
ReplyDelete