REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 19, 2021

Here’s a signed publicity photo of Joan Rivers. The message appears to be: “To Tomie and Doug - What a joy and a pleasure that some friendships last longer than youth - (or in my case youthess) xxxxx Joan Rivers”

(It looks to me as if she wrote “youthess.” Plural of youth?)

I assume this was written in the early 1970s while Tomie and Doug were in Las Vegas living for a short period while waiting for Doug’s divorce to be finalized.

A story that I might not correctly remember: Joan Rivers invited Tomie and his mother to attend her first appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. She wanted Tomie and Flossie’s enthusiastic laughter in the audience. I believe that first appearance was in 1965. (Bob)

Joan Rivers Signed Photograph 1970s.jpg

REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 17, 2021

Left to Right: Sister Judie, me, Tomie, David Bryson (longtime friend and painter), Paula Danziger (uber popular children’s book writer).

50th birthday party at the “red house” in New London, NH, September, 1985.

The red house was a three-story house that Tomie hated, but he loved the grounds and rustic barn. The party was mostly held in the barn. Horse stalls were different food stalls.

Attendees included Anita Lobel and the actress Tammy Grimes (who arrived with a camper and stayed overnight on the property).

Thus began the big zero years birthday parties: the 60th had over 400 guests, and the 70th featured entertainment by drag queens from New York City (of which one has become an international star - “Peppermint”). (Bob)

Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality

An Orderly Transition would be nice, too.

50th Birthday Party Red House September 1985.jpg

REMEMBERING TOMIE on January 16, 2021

1980s. “Tomie dePaola on Parade,” Tracy Memorial Library’s float for New London’s Hospital Days Parade.

Tomie was Grand Marshal of the Parade in 2018.

He expected to be escorted in a convertible, but instead his chariot was an enormous Suburban. When he sat in it, you could barely see his head.

Yet, Tomie was not about to let an opportunity such as this swallow him up. He propped himself up and hung out of the window to achieve maximum exposure.

He had a lot of fun acting the Grand Marshal. (Bob)

Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality

An Orderly Transition would be nice, too.

New London Hospital Days Parade Tracy Library Float 1980s.jpg

Website Images and Content © by Whitebird, Inc. All Rights Reserved.