A FOND FAREWELL; SINATRA FANS, FAMILY, PALS HONOR LEGEND.Byline: Melissa Schmitt Daily News Staff Writer The Chairman of the Board would have been proud Tuesday night in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , where they came in droves, packing the streets, surrounding Good Shepherd Good Shepherd [N.T.: John 10:11–14] See : Christ Church an hour before the guests were even scheduled to arrive. Fans like Linda Parolisi of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. came not so much for a glimpse of the rich and famous as to pay tribute to what they called a passing of an era. ``I have taken this as a great loss to America,'' she said. ``Frank Sinatra was the quintessential American spirit. He represented the common man.'' When the hearse arrived, the stunned crowd began running, following it around the corner, and then fell silent when pallbearers took out the gardenia-blanketed coffin. The crowd was kept behind yellow police tape separating it from Sinatra's friends and family. Generations of Hollywood stars were there for the prelude to today's funeral and final goodbye to Ol' Blue Eyes Blue eyes are eyes that have blue irises (see eye color), and may also refer to:
``These are, like, the real movie stars,'' said Christie Abernethy, 23, from Columbia, S.C., one of the hundreds of fans who lined Bedford Drive Bedford Drive is an alternative rock band from Southgate, Michigan, which is located "down river" from Detroit, Michigan. The band describes its sound as "post-hardcore power pop. and Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. Boulevard looking on as Bentleys and Lincoln Continentals dropped off the stars. Los Angeles Archbishop Roger Mahony His Eminence Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony (born February 27, 1936) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1991. arrived earlier to preside at the service. Also arriving early were his children Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of popular singer Frank Sinatra and his first wife, Nancy Barbato, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". and Frank Sinatra Jr.; his wife, Barbara; and friends Kirk Douglas, Connie Stevens Connie Stevens (born August 8, 1938) is an American actress and singer. Biography She was born Concetta Rosalie Anna Ingoglia in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of Peter Ingoglia (known as musician Teddy Stevens) and singer Eleanor McGinley. , Jill St. John, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Don Rickles and Gregory Peck. Other celebrities included Robert Wagner, Jack Lemmon, Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, Bob Newhart, Sinatra's former wife Mia Farrow farrow see farrowing. , Anthony Quinn, Red Buttons, Milton Berle, Wayne Newton, Tom Selleck, Paul Anka, Joey Heatherton, Tim Conway, Ben Vereen, Ed McMahon, Marlo Thomas and Angie Dickinson. There were no video or audio hookups to the vigil for Sinatra, who died of a heart attack Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a world-renowned hospital located in Los Angeles, California. History Cedars-Sinai is the result of a merger in 1961 between two major Los Angeles hospitals, Cedars of Lebanon and Mount Sinai Home for the Incurables, with Steve Broidy as . Reporters and photographers were kept away from the church. A medley of Sinatra songs was played, and Nancy Sinatra and Tony Bennett spoke before the rosary was recited, according to members of a choir that sang two hymns. ``Nancy spoke very clearly and strongly about her father,'' said Frank Brownstead, 55, music director for the Cardinal's Office of Worship. ``She read a letter that Frank Sinatra had written her in the '70s in the middle of all the family's troubles. The message was keep the faith.'' Choir member Chris Green quoted Bennett as saying of Sinatra: ``We all fell in love, fell out of love and fell in love again to the sound of his voice.'' A television commentator called it ``the official end of the 20th Century.'' Barbara Grubman of Woodland Hills came not so much for a glimpse of the rich and famous, but to pay tribute to an American hero. ``When he was a young kid in Hoboken, did he ever think that they'd be valet-parking at his funeral? I just think he was bigger than life,'' Grubman said. Will George, 48, of Venice tossed a Hoyo de Monterey cigar in honor of the Chairman of the Board. ``He's the music of my life,'' George said. ``I've been listening to him since I was a kid. (He's) the old guard of Hollywood. This guy owned it.'' Standing in the crowd Tuesday was Marcelo Harfuch, 35, of Los Angeles, president of the Sinatra fan club in Argentina. ``He has given so many happy and unforgettable moments to my life. Argentina is a small country, but in 1995, when Sinatra performed there, he said he received one of the warmest receptions he had ever received before. There is a lot of sorrow in Argentina right now.'' Today's funeral is scheduled for noon in the same Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Tony Bennett, the man Sinatra considered a vocalist without peer, is expected to sing at today's midday Mass. A military honor guard will escort the flag-draped casket today when Sinatra's casket will be placed in a 2,700-pound bronze-lined protective burial vault at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City. This is where his mother, Natalie ``Dolly'' Sinatra, and father, Anthony Martin Sinatra, are buried. The cemetery where Sinatra will be buried is near Frank Sinatra Drive and the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center for abused children. Just last month, Barbara Sinatra joyously recalled the couple's years as desert residents, saying, ``We're really desert rats.'' --- The Associated Press contributed to this story. CAPTION(S): 4 Photos PHOTO (1--2--Color) Frank Sinatra's casket, covered with his favorite flower, gardenias, is carried into the Church of the Good Shepherd Church of the Good Shepherd may refer to:
catch sight, get a look see - perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight; "You have to be a good observer to see all the details"; "Can you see the bird in that tree?"; "He is blind--he of the hearse, below. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News (3) Liza Minnelli, center, arrives at the Church of the Good Shepherd for Tuesday's memorial for Frank Sinatra, who died Thursday. Susan Sterner/Associated Press (4--Color) Frank Sinatra |
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