I met Luciano Pavarotti the day after the 25th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in the 1980's/ He was signing a 25th anniversary coffee table book at a bookstore at the corner of 5th and W 53rd.

I told him that I had written him with the idea of a movie plot in which he and Dom DeLuise would be cousins named after the same grandfather. I thanked him for the very gracious rejection note he had sent me.

When I asked him to sign a picture of himself riding a horse in the NYC Columbus Day Parade in the book I had just bought, he asked me if I liked horses. I said I had chosen that picture because it was on 5th Ave and we were on 5th Ave.

Finally, I said in Italian "Sai, e un grande occasione a incontrarLa" (You know it's a great occasion for me to me you." He shrugged his shoulder a little and said "Il piacere e mio." (The pleasure is mine.) It was as though I was the only person in the room. He was taller than I had thought and his hands were quite big - we had a very firm handshake.

I had spoken to him in Italian because I wanted him to know that I am of Italian origin and I wanted him to sign the book in Italian, but didn't want to ask him to do so. He signed "Anita, per un caro ricordo" (for a dear remembrance).

And what a great memory it has been.

I met a woman who had a better story, though. When she asked Luciano to sign an album for Joey, he said "This isn't for you?"
She said "No, it's for my nephew."
He said "You don't like me?"
She said "LIKE you? I ADORE you!!!!"
He said "You love people. You adore only God."
His knowledge of Catholic theology was absolutely correct and he reminded her of it!!!!
Anita Bologna