It's hard to believe that Joan Rivers is gone. We've heard the accolades from show business people about her, but what was Joan Rivers like, up close and personal with regular folk? My daughter Lauren told me how she met Joan Rivers and what her impression was of the star.

Joan Rivers standing in a theater
photo by Lauren McShea
loading...

Here's my daughter Lauren's account of the night she met Joan Rivers in New York City:

"I first met Joan Rivers in February, 2010 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden- I was in the presence of a legend, a pioneer of a woman in comedy; at Kathy Griffin's show (her "heir apparent" of celebrity insult comedy). I actually sat a row in front of Rivers. People were crowding around her taking photos with her and she graciously entertained each and every one. She was welcomed into the theater with a standing ovation and another when Kathy saluted her from the stage.

I didn't ask for a photo with Rivers however, I did get the honor of speaking with her. She was a woman of high class behind the spotlight. She thanked me for being a fan as she grabbed my hand in both of hers; very warm, very kind.

Later that year, I saw Joan again where she signed her photo for me at the premiere of her documentary, "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work" at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas- a gem of a chronicle of Rivers' life on and off-stage. Aside from her jabbing standup routine, it shines light on the woman herself- a very giving (bringing meals to shut-ins with her grandson, Cooper), educated (Barnard College graduate, B.A. in English literature and anthropology), articulate, sharp and chic fashionista. I highly recommend the film to anyone interested in the woman behind the iron lip. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Rivers:_A_Piece_of_Work

When asked by one interviewer, “Joan, how do we treat the little people?”

“Why, we treat them better,” Joan replied. “We only *@&% on people at our level or higher.”

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us "little people," Joan. It made my experience a little bit "better."

 

More From 96.1 The Eagle