Dinah Shore

With the untimely passing of Dinah Shore, I have lost a beloved and illustrious neighbor. Although I occasionally said hello when I would see her walking her dog, the only time I ever spoke to her at length was at a Frank Sinatra Invitational Gala two years ago.

I had the pleasure of telling her in person that I have loved her--platonically speaking--for more years than either of us cared to remember, that I have two Victor 78s that she made with Xavier Cugat at the beginning of her career that I would be delighted to give her if she didn’t have them (she did), and that I especially relished her blues singing.

I couldn’t resist placing a presumptuous kiss on her lovely cheek at parting--but she didn’t seem to mind. So, farewell, beloved songbird, from a dedicated admirer!

MARVIN H. LEAF

Rancho Mirage