Henry Mancini

On June 14 I got up and as usual, turned on the radio. Jack Jones was singing, “Dear Heart,” one of Henry Mancini’s compositions that I, a professional singer, included in my repertoire.

After listening for a while, I decided to send Henry Mancini a letter. I hadheard that he was ill and I wanted to wish him well and let him know how I admired him and his music. I had had the pleasure of meeting him and Ginny, his lovely wife, at many parties where I had entertained.

Then I sat down, wrote the letter and mailed it. A few minutes later, I got in my car, turned on the radio and again “Dear Heart” was playing--this time, it was a big orchestra conducted by the maestro himself. Suddenly, the announcer said, “Mr. Mancini passed away.” Tears rolled down my cheeks and I sobbed quietly, asking myself, “Why didn’t I write that letter some time ago?”

Now he is gone, but his music will always be there. Rest in peace, “Dear Heart.”

ROSITA DUCHESNE MALLA

North Hollywood

* In the early 1960s, when some other little girls were twisting to Little Eva and Bobby Vee records, I was holed up in my room wearing out my Henry Mancini albums. While I suppose I missed out on an important phase of adolescent socialization, I am just as certain I learned a great deal about life from Mancini’s witty and dramatic scores.

The themes from “Hatari,” “Experiment in Terror,” “The Days of Wine and Roses” and “Two for the Road” continue to inform me about romance, devotion, adventure and sorrow.

I knew then what I know now: Henry Mancini helped make film the greatest art form of this century.

MELISSA SWEENEY

Santa Monica