Charming and Generous -- Hope Was Funny, Too

On Monday I felt one day older -- as a great humanitarian, plus a great entertainer, died at the age of 100. Bob Hope is now with his friends, including Lucille Ball, who was one of his regular leading ladies. I grew up being entertained by Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Ernie Kovacs, George Jessel, Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante, plus many more, including Hope. Bless him for everything he did for our troops during all the wars, starting with World War II. May God take care of him. Although he was born in 1903 in England, he became an American citizen and loved and honored this country. He will be missed, but his name will live on forever in many ways.

Lee J. Meyers

Anaheim

*

I got to see Bob Hope -- me and tens of thousands of other troops on the slope of Freedom Hill in Danang, South Vietnam, in December 1968. He truly gave us hope. We can never thank him enough.

Tim Elliott

Burbank

*

I’m proud to say that I made Bob Hope laugh. I am retired but do some part-time driving. A few years ago he and his wife Dolores attended a dinner party in a Beverly Hills home, as did my employer. While I was waiting for my people, Bob and Dolores came out the front door and sweetly stood holding hands and singing together while waiting for their car. I was only a few feet away, so I said, “Did you two ever think of trying to break into show business?” Bob didn’t quite hear and said to Dolores, “Whadi say, whadi say?” She repeated what I said and he laughed out loud.

I later told him someday he’d be playing golf with Bing again. His driver told me Bob had mentioned it to him and believed it to be true. You’ve made a hole in one, Bob. Bet you’re having the time of your life now, meeting all your old friends and the thousands of servicemen you’ve entertained.

Robert J. Evans

Santa Monica

*

Goodbye to Mr. Hope. His style and charm ranked him above Benny, Berle, Durante, George Burns and Crosby. I will never forget the time I saw him attempting to enjoy dinner at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago during the Fourth of July weekend of 1975. Needless to say, the intrusions were problematic. But he adeptly dealt with these interruptions in a gentlemanly manner.

Whether on stage with his golf club in hand, in front of thousands of GIs on a USO tour in some remote part of the world during the Christmas season or rudely interrupted while attempting to enjoy dinner at a Chicago hotel, his comportment made him the best of the best. And without question, he will always be considered a national treasure.

Earl Beal

Terre Haute, Ind.