About 100 gazillion moons ago, my parents had a dinner party and Orson Welles was sitting in a corner, alone, watching everything and everyone. A friend of my father’s asked me, gaping, “Is that really Orson Welles?” It was, but at the time I was still too young to have the slightest idea of who that was.

I’ve met Lou Ferrigno and Arnold Schwarzeneggar , both at bodybuilding events. Nice guys

I have always had a crush on Paul Newman and I met him, Joanne Woodward and Gore Vidal while having dinner at the Four Seasons Restaurant on my twelfth birthday. My family and I were seated at the next table and I was facing them. I barely listened to the conversation at my own table I was so fascinated by them — how they looked, what they ate, and especially hearing their famous voices in person. At the end of our dinner, I was served a huge plate of pink cotton candy as a celebratory treat. Mr. Newman commented on it and so my father passed him the plate and each of them took a taste and wished me a happy birthday. It was!

I used to live with Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, I was 16 yrs. old at the time, I lived with her nearly a year. I have maintained a good friendship with her confidante Frances Luethy over the years as well, I was the only American teenager whom had this type of opportunity, as both of my parents worked for her at the time. I still have pictures of her and some of the farm animals she loved so much, she was a very big animal lover, she was just a very phenomenal woman, very independent, strong willed, and even as a 16 yr old then, I still took alot from which she taught with me. She used to talk to me about unconditional love, I still somewhat remember the song prayer we used to sing before each and every meal with the volunteers on the farm. Was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything…her memory will be with me forever. My Dad, practically built the Center she had built in Highland County, Virginia, that they at the time fought so hard to try to keep from being built there. Eventually it was completed, so that cancer patients would have a very beautiful resting place for their final days. He also took care of Elisabeth’s every need, whether it be farm, or just making sure the damper on her stove was shut for the night. My mom, worked out of her office, made sure her travel arrangements were made, and after the Center was completed, she ran the kitchen, making the meals and serving patients. At Christmas, Elisabeth would invite us all over, and we would spend hours making Northern Stars out of colored string and wooden skewer sticks. But Elisabeth had a way of touching anyone she came into contact with, didn’t matter if you were a patient of hers or not. I learned how to speak some German, I learned how to cook from different countries, I had the pleasure of living with people from various countries, I learned how to knit, take care of the farm animals, and have spitting contests with Llama’s…awesome huh, yeah those were priceless memories!! Well now it’s a little disgusting, but back then, really fun, haha! Go up and clean Elisabeth’s house, from top to bottom, even scrubbing and waxing her floors. I didn’t mind, it was a pleasure to me. Still have a picture of that house. Will never forget!

The most famous person met was Muhammad Ali. I was just 19 years old in Cjicago and I met hom at the Palmer House getting ready for his exhibition fight with Scott Ledoux. I will never forget him. He was kind and flirtatious. We dated for about a month. I did not know any better at the time that he was married. But I abhor that kind of behavior now. I have also met OJ Simpson, Norm Van Lier..and a host of others.. thanks Hazel

I’ve met many famous people over the years, yet did not know them as “famous” as they were simply family friends back then. However, the most interesting encounter I recall was when I was in HS and traveling with the mock trial team. We were in Dallas for a tournament, I was dating a team mate and my father had flown in to surprise me during the trip. On the way back we were walking thru DFW airport and a man stops my dad to shake hands, say hello, etc. My dad introduces me and my boyfriend to his friend “Dan.” We said our hello’s, stood by as they chatted a bit more and we went on our way. My boyfriend didn’t say a word as we walked thru the terminal, he looked a bit stunned…when I asked him what was wrong his reply was, “I can’t believe I just met Dan Rather.” Caryn Gottlieb FitzGerald.

Having been of Oprah’s show a couple of times, I would have to say this lady was the most famous. For sure the wealthiest! When she started her own show, my spouse and I were picked for a make over. Four couples where picked and they sent the men home after their makeover. The women in a hotel in Chicago. The limos picked up the men so the great reveal of the couples would be seen on the air. I went from long blonde hair to very short red. New clothes, and a new look was fun. I then was filmed in my studio photographing someone for her Spirit segment. It was a show all about photography. 100 years of photography and I was picked to be the spirit segment for that day. Two more visits to the show, one they sent to pick up my son and myself for a show. An honor I really appreciated. I love reading the very interesting stories on this subject.

This may trump you all. One day I got a phone call from the general Manger of the local CBS station here in Chicago asking if we would host a private event in my restaurant. It seemed that the entire cast of MURPHY BROWN was coming to town to meet the local sponsors and he wanted to have a breakfast ‘meet and greet’ at my restaurant. One of my great treasures is the photo album of Candace and Lili greeting me with outstretched arms. ( It even topped the day Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda came to lunch. Sorry….)

The most famous person I ‘ve ever met was Hillary Clinton. She’d held an Early Literacy Conference at the White House and inspired our early pediatric literacy program, Reach Out and Read to branch out from Boston to Baltimore. She agreed to appear at a city wide kickoff of our program held at the University of Maryland Pediatric Outpatient Center. Anticipation was high before her arrival. She was preceded by State Police with sniffing Dobermans. The hair stood up on the backs of our necks. She entered beaming and was gracious and smiling as she shook all our hands. I’ve been an enthusiastic supporter ever since that day. Our program now has 3900 sites nationwide.

I live in the hamptons so we see and meet lots of famous and celebrities My favorite was Billy Joel, in Williams and Sonoma, Bridgehampton. He is an absolute doll.

It had been a long difficult day. Darkness had set in as I left the office, headed for the comfort of my hotel room. I was standing alone, bone tired and it seemed an eternity before the elevator door opened. I was so startled I suddenly forgot my exhausted condition. As the doors swung open, standing alone and looking at me as if to say, “Well say something”, I pulled myself together and simply said, out loud, “Hi Bing”. He just answered, with a lovely, friendly smile, “Lovely evening isn’t it”, and proceeded to disappear into the lobby. I couldn’t believe it, but it was the “Crooner” himself.