Meeting a celebrity...

[rayinpenn]

David Rockefeller dies at 101

There was a time, 20 years ago, when many of the firm facilities I worked had a gyms. I was fortunate enough to be a member of the gym (not everyone employee had membership). One day I was putting on my shorts getting dressed when I struck a conversation with an older gent doing the same. I got to chatting with 'David' and I finally introduced myself and I said hey what's your last name he said "Rockefeller" and I immediately said "now that's embarrassing" he told me that he had retired before I started so there was no way I should know him. He was a humble gentleman and had a great reputation that was well deserved...

20 years later I chuckle every time I think of that day...

 

[nativenewenglander]

Great story. I worked as President of a our town historical society for several years. The gentleman that had been buildings and grounds chair for years was retiring. I stopped by his house to give him a gift for his years of service. While there, he said do you remember me talking about my grandson who worked at Google? I said well I certainly do. He said well he left there and started his own company. What's his company called, I asked him. He said Instagram, have you heard of it? Kevin Systrom was his grandson.

 

[Nemo2]

I saw Tiny Tim once, at Toronto Airport circa 1968.

He spoke to me......said "Get out of my way"....(naah, made that last part up.)

 

[Bestwifeever]

I shook the hands that shook the hands of many a celebrity. Six degrees of handshaking in some cases....

 

[grasshopper]

I had dinner with Liberace twice, only your grandmother would find that exciting.

 

[Major Tom]

George Clinton recorded an outgoing message for my answering machine once.

 

[CardsFan]

About 15 years ago I was visiting a company in Tulsa to discuss a possible patrnership to pursue a project together. He told me the company had recently been bought and his new boss wanted to sit in on the meeting. I was not senior management, but it was not unusual to meet the executives of the companies we did business with.

The new owners were Koch Industries, and the person attending the meeting was Billionaire David Koch.

 

[latexman]

About 30-35 years ago, I sat beside Morley Safer on a flight either going to or from NYC. He was a nice guy.

 

[Ronstar]

Met Bob Neuhart, Don Rickles, Celine Dion, Telly Savalas, and Susan Lucci on various Las Vegas trips. Had breakfast with George H. W. Bush (with about 200 people) when he was VP. Didn't get a chance to talk with him though.

 

[Elbata]

I really like these kinds of stories. Seems like Vegas is the place for most "star" sightings.

Del Ramos, plays for The Association. Hell of a nice guy and I met him playing pool league.

He tells the story of playing at the Hilton in Vegas. Upon finishing, the band wants to go back to their dressing room but weren't allowed in. Security was there, and come to find out, Elvis was in their room. They eventually got into the room, meet Elvis, and Del said Elvis mentioned he really liked their music.

BTW, if you ever run into Del at a pool hall, don't play him for money. He's gooooood.

 

[Philliefan33]

DH and I once asked Brent Musberger for directions. The weather was cold and he was bundled up, but as soon as he started talking we recognized his voice. We talked basketball for a few minutes, then continued on our way (according to the directions given by Brent).

 

[I was misinformed]

I ate dinner about 5 feet from Tony Randall in January 1992. Right next to me and my date having our dinner at a NY restaurant there was a party for the cast of the 1991 Broadway revival of The Crucible. This was the inaugural production of the National Actors Theatre, an attempt to have a repertory theatre company on Broadway, founded by Randall. The cast members at the party included Martin Sheen and Richard York.

Randall sat at the table to my right and accepted congratulations from everyone (who all called him "TR"). He left pretty early as the actors continued to party. I was astounded by the large fraction of the cast who were smoking (particularly as Randall was a famous anti-smoking zealot).

 

[davismills]

I was a 15 year old page in the N.C. Senate for about three weeks. Joe Louis was visiting the capital and he came back to the "page room" and shook hands with all of us. Let me tell you, his hands were bigger than Donald Trump's.

 

[brucethebroker]

While with the family at an auto show, saw David Hasselhoff (at that time, Knight Rider fame, pre-Baywatch) walking through the crowd. Many called his name and he simply waved. DW moved in behind him and cooed "Oh David.....". He immediately turned around, smiled, then shook hands with our very young boys. Of course they recognized him from the "car that talks" show.

 

[pletal]

Had lunch with Steve Forbes last year in NYC. Just him and a friend of mine. Great guy.

 

[Bamaman]

I sat next to Brenda Lee at Easter services in Nashville. It's a place where it's common to run into famous entertainers.
I remember being around Johnny Cash when he was touring in a '47 Packard. And Patsy Cline showed us the first tape player I ever saw in a car--1962 Cadillac. And my sister one night was teaching an intoxicated Roger Miller how to do cartwheels.

 

[COcheesehead]

Bumped into a few in Aspen over the years: Lance Armstrong, Chevy Chase, Don Henley, Oats of Hall and Oats, David Hasslehoff. Also saw Ralph Lauren in Telluride and the then Bruce Jenner in Denver.

 

[CaptTom]

Sat near some YouTube minor celebrity on a plane the other day. Some passengers recognized her, I didn't. Nice lady, a few of us chatted for quite a while. I guess I misunderstood her name because I couldn't find her on line.

Other than living next door to the greenhouses where Barbara Bush bought her bedding plants in the spring, that's about it.

 

[Winemaker]

George Clinton recorded an outgoing message for my answering machine once.

Charleton Heston used to call me on a daily basis for about 3 months.

 

[COcheesehead]

Bumped into a few in Aspen over the years: Lance Armstrong, Chevy Chase, Don Henley, Oats of Hall and Oats, David Hasslehoff. Also saw Ralph Lauren in Telluride and the then Bruce Jenner in Denver.

Couple things about Jenner. He appeared smaller than you'd think and he already had the nose job so he looked "fake", probably the best way to describe it.

 

[jfn111]

I Was in the company's VIP tent at an auto race in WI, old CART days, and this young bald guy sat down at the table and started chatting. My teenage daughter, at the time, was mad I didn't get Billy Corgan's autograph for her. I had never heard of the Smashing Pumpkins and didn't have the slightest idea who he was.

 

[latexman]

Ate lunch beside Rex Linn, Detective Sergeant Francis "Frank" Tripp on CSI: Miami, in Houston Hobby Airport back sometime in 2006-2010.

 

[COcheesehead]

If you really want to go waaaay back, when I was a kid, 12 years old, I worked as a caddy at a local country club in Wisconsin. I got to caddy for Zeke Bratkowski, who was the Packer's back up QB to Bart Starr in the Lombardi glory years. He could drive the ball well over 300 yards off the tee.

 

[Beldar]

I met Colin Powell right after he was nominated to be Chairman JCS. He was visiting our unit (Division HQs) in the field while still FORSCOMM commander.

As soon as he exited his civilian Bronco, his security escort set up a portable SATCOM terminal. It was funny to see the 1 and 2 star generals snap to attention and follow him around like ducklings.

When he entered the Intel van that I was in charge of he shook my hand and asked some questions (I was mere Capt at the time). Made some comments about a broken Apple computer we weren't using. It must have been really boring for him.

He was a lot shorter in person than he appeared/appears on television.

I'm not sure he qualifies as a celebrity but thats it for me.

_B

 

[easysurfer]

Not real meeting but more gawking....

On business in early mid 80's. Saw Joe Frazier all by himself at a hotel lobby.

In a bookstore looking for computer books, there was a line of men with issue of Playboy in hand waiting in line for a very young (starting out) Jenny McCarthy.