Acknowledgments

First, I wish to thank my stepson Jason, daughter-in-law Sonja, and my beautiful grandchildren Andrew and Alyssa for their support. My late wife, Diana, was my greatest cheerleader; it is to her that this book is lovingly dedicated. My late sons, Matthew and Tommy, were also important inspirations. My beautiful partner, Kathleen (Kathy) Anderson Lindsey, is my source of strength and love. Emmy Lindsey, Kathy’s daughter, is brilliant, beautiful, and successful.

My dear friend, brilliant writer and etiquette guru Ellen Easton, is a great source of support and guidance. Another good friend, Marie Elana, was of great assistance concerning transcripts. Thanks to Nick Santa Maria, Jeff Abraham, and Jordan Young. And a big thank you to famed New York Post columnist Michael Seth Starr for sharing his info from his outstanding biography on Joey Bishop. Thanks are also in order for Melinda Cummings Cameron and her husband, Professor Kim Cameron; William J. Birnes and his wonderful wife, writer Nancy Hayfield Birnes; and the late C. David Heymann for his guidance.

My sincerest thanks to Robbie Adkins for her elegant design work, and to one of my favorite writers, Steve Stoliar, for his assistance with proofreading. Scott H. Reboul was a great help as well.

I greatly appreciate my co-author and friend Lon Davis (and his terrific wife, Deb) for his editorial guidance, knowledge, and support.

And, of course, a great debt of thanks to that Son-of-a-Gun, Joey Bishop. His hours of conversation and his contribution of his materials made this book possible.