RIP Robert

[doctork]

This hurts really bad for me, so I think Robert Osborne deserves his own commemorative thread. He passed away earlier today.

www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/movies/robert-osborne-dead-turner-classic-movies-host.html?_r=0

Robert had missed the last TCM cruise due to his poor health, but Ben Mankiwiecz and Diane Baker had given us cause to hope that he might eventually return to the TCM channel. Alas, it was not to be.

What a gentleman, and what a font of Hollywood knowledge and history. When you had the chance to speak with him, he was so genuinely interested in you and what you thought. Such a nice man, and they really broke the mold, there will never be another like him.

We say this so often, but I really will miss him. Howard and I both were crying as we watched Ben make the announcement, and then ran a short film of clips from his career.

[BoatBabe]

Really. He was from Colfax, Wash.

[doctork]

Yes, that's interesting isn't it? Originally from Colfax.

Yet he grew up so worldly, so gentlemanly, so knowledgeable despite - or because of - his small town back ground. An amazing man, I am so glad I had the opportunity to met him and talk to him on the TCM cruises, even though that personal aspect makes his loss hurt more.

I've been a slow learner over the years, but gradually figured out it's better to crack open your heart a little - hurts more, but lets so much more love in.

It seemed that most of the TCM people on the cruise were like that- open, friendly, caring. With very few exceptions (I'm looking at you Richard Dreyfuss), not at all what you might have thought about "Hollywood types." But Robert did break the mold. There will never be another quite like him, so very "Robert."

[doctork]

RIP Robert & Jerry.

They kind of go together in my mind because we met Jerry Lewis (Robert too, for that matter) on a Turner Classic Movie Cruise.

Jerry was such a mensche, and he seemed so healthy and vital last November, although he was quite elderly of course. Howard and I were both immensely impressed, enough that we named our precious puppy after him!

Jerry's motto was something along the lines of "I'll only pass this way once so if I have a chance to do good or help someone, and should do it now, as I may never pass this way again." I think he surely lived up to that, to the very fullest.

Now I am glad we named our Berner Jerri.