Happy Birthday, Dad

Today would have been your 96th birthday, Dad - what an incredible thought. You left us about 2.5 years ago, and are dearly missed every day.

I love how romantic this portrait photo is - it might even be your first professional head shot, taken in the late 1930s or early 1940s, when you began your career singing in the Trenton, New Jersey area.

Here are some pictures of you during your engagement with the Trenton Opera Association:

You as Benoit, the landlord, in LA BOHEME, in 1941. The beard can't hide how young you are for this role! 

This picture made it into the local papers. There you are (nice makeup!) with Nino Martini as Rodolfo and Lois Monroe as Mimi.

That MUST be Musetta in the huge bonnet. You are in the front row next to the conductor, Michael Kuttner, center, dressed for the party, no doubt!

You had a great press agent...probably your brother Albert, who had an ad agency. Handy!

And here you are, in Cadwalader Park, perhaps, with an unknown lady and Maestro Kuttner.
It was all ahead of you, Dad, and you look as if you can't wait to get on with it...your wonderful achievements and adventures. It was an amazing life, and here's to you, on your day.