Farewell Joan Rivers . . .
A beautiful September Sunday morning saw the gathering on 5th Ave at the Temple Emanu-El for the sad, fond farewell to the dynamic Joan Rivers . . . a woman I somehow always thought of as living forever!
John Waters
Work flow, Whoopi Goldberg almost online.
Judge Judy
Grant Shaffer and Allan Cumming
Newsreader Diane Sawyer, far right.
Music impresario, Clive Davis
Margaret Cho, Comedian
Long time Personal Shopper at Bergdorf Goodman’s and old friend of Joan’s – Betty Halbreich, left.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan
Broadway star and actress, Bernadette Peters.
Comedian Joy Behar
Order of Service
- Part of the Gay Men’s Chorus
Mario Cantone, Comedian
Simon Doonan, Creative Director, Barneys
Steve Forbes, Publisher, Forbes Magazine.
Kyle Maclachlan, actor.
Amy, friend of Joan’s – “like a mother to me . . .”
Talk Show host, Andy Cohen
Billy Bush, radio and television host.
Deborah Norville in press interview outside Temple
Friends of Joan
It did seem like she would just keep on living, and looking young.
As much as I love Joan I wince at the thought of all the pain that went into tightening her face . . .
I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around her death this past week. She did seem like she would always be around. I grew with her — sneaking into my dad’s home office as a child after everyone was asleep to watch her on the tonight show…later when I was temping in NYC I would tune into K-Rock every morning where she was a frequent guest on Howard Stern. I stopped listening for a while too when one morning he crossed the line and made her cry. RIP.
Meant I grew up with her.
The background layers of growing up add up to so much don’t they, all those wonderful, mixed memories!
And now who will save us from political correctness?
Who indeed, maybe Joy Behar? I’m still missing Phyllis Diller – those woman of a certain age had a perspective all their own didn’t they!
And then there’s Margaret Cho, here In Bed With Joan Rivers!
There’s Sarah Silverman…
Oh, I do hope Melissa managed the coffin wind machine! My goodness, Patti, you did get us the scoop! 🙂
We have to believe the wind machine was there in spirit!
Thanks for this tribute and the front row views. She was such an icon. Hard to believe that her journey here is done. Thanks for sharing.
An inspiring icon that’s for sure. Thank you Kris!
Two of America’s comedians lost within a month’s time.
Good shooting, Patti. You certainly covered the who’s who at this ceremony.
They left a lot of laughs behind and now they live forever on youtube . . . thank you Allan!
The loss of someone important to us is always sad and difficult. But, as someone said people only die if when we forget them.
robert
A lovely thought, thank you Robert!
Looks like the Funeral she always wanted (as she joked). Great post Patti 🙂
Thank you Joe. She starred all the way through!
Great shots, Patti! You know how to get the details of a big event to make it feel personal.
And great to have you here, thank you DW!
!!! John Waters !!! And it’s a beautiful shot too! These are all wonderful, Patti! How close were you?
Yes!!! And so happy to get some John Waters love here, thank you Richard! He was my first shot of the day and honestly, I was almost happy enough to call it a day after that. We were on the corner together waiting to cross the road, I asked him about taking his photo and he was so sweet about it. I managed to get a few. The funny thing was, after that, a middle-aged woman asked me who he was? I thought everyone, sort of, knew John Waters (i.e. if I know, then everyone else must!) and still she had no idea. I threw her a few subject lines etc but still nothing. Turns out she is a journalist for a NY publication who then suggested she should perhaps hang around with me for the day . . . Sorry for the long reply!
It’s a perfect length reply! I’m so glad John Waters was nice – I always imagined he would be – have you seen Pecker? He’s one of us. Sounds like a fascinating day – connection with a journalist too.
No Richard, I haven’t seen Pecker but now of course I want to! Just so happens the Lincoln Centre is having a retrospective showcase of all his films – Fifty Years of John Waters: How Much Can You Take?
Go, it’ll be brilliant. I once went to a JW all-nighter and it was hilarious. Pecker’s very warm-hearted and I think autobiographical.
I have no idea who these people are, except that I know Joan Rivers (because she’s a friend of Israel) and I’ve heard about Forbes because of his magazine. Anyway: nice shots and it’s a shame that she passed away.
Cardinal, that’s OK, I forgive you! Any friend of Joan’s is a friend of yours and, starting with our other best friend Google, there is a whole world waiting. John Waters is as good as any place to start!
Nice job covering this Patti! Loved what Joan said on the left side of her program. So Joan, LOL!
And who wouldn’t want Meryl Street crying in five different languages!!
You documented the moment perfectly, Patti.
Thank you so much Rabirius!
Nice to see that guys still wear suits to funerals in New York. Keeps a little dignity in this death business that we’ve lost here in California, where people go to memorials like they’re dressed for the gym.
Really, they go that casual? Maybe the multi-tasking Californians manage to fit in a funeral service on the way to the gym . . . . It was such a hot day here and I was struck by the over-all elegance of the men in their suits. Wonderful to hear from you Mike, thank you so much!
Joan Rivers was a sharp thinker, something British in her attitude, for sure sometimes not easy to accept for US minds! So I’m happy to notice with the help of your wonderful celebrity series that many in N.Y. gave her much respect – R.I.P. Joan…
Joan shot straight from the lip, no filter, as the mouthpiece for so many that made everyone feel in on the jokes and observations. Obviously this is going to make some people uncomfortable but that’s what New Yorker’s do to some people!!
I remember, she once said, pres. Obama looks like gay – and Michelle like a transvestite…
Makes a change from all the birther allegations!
Okay, so I heard the news from you. (Talk about being in an expat daze). You are better than the paparrazzi.
You are too kind but as my own little pattirazzi outfit, always happy to help!
Looks like this was the event of the week. Forget Brad and Angelina. You captured a lot of great street and celebrity shots!
So many hoped, almost taking for it granted, that Joan would pull though because that’s what she always did. I hope Brad and Angie live happily ever after!
Patti, you captured magnificent shots here. The one of the “regular” people lined up along the barricade with the cell phones at the ready – a favorite – as is the one of the woman reading the newspaper. Priceless expression. From Joan’s words in the program, seems she got exactly the kind of send-off she wanted. To Joan!
It is always a pleasure to see life in a big city without actually having to be there! Thanks for the great photos that captured this special tribute.
so much happening 🙂
She was very much an institution who we thought would be around forever. Thank you Patti for this poignant insight.
Thanks for the fabulous coverage Patti!!! Seems like a fitting farewell to the dynamic and incorrigible lady 🙂
She certainly will be missed! Such an iconic figure with incredible energy.
Commendable work Patti! Showing some real flexibility here, because these subjects weren’t quite the same as working with people on the street, not really. You know your stuff! And your spirit is generous, as always.
Many thanks, Patti. It truly was like being there.
I used to buy some of her jewelry on QVC — she based it on her own fabulous collection of Faberge and like that! Also the Faberge “eggs” she manufactured, complete with little “surprises”. Even the chutzpah of doing that is emblematic of an out-there woman. The book she did on her jewelry is actually terrific.
What fabulous captures and yes, she was an icon and will surely be missed!
Wow, Patti-you’ve shown us the day like nobody else can. Wonderful work as always.
Great captures Patti.
She was a character until the end. Even creating a list of people “banned” from attending her funeral.
Somehow celebritites become a part of our lives in more ways than entertainement. Perhaps, it’s because they say and do what we ourselves could never do. She had a sad life after her husband, Edgar, had committed suicide. She took that heartwrenching negative situation and rose above it to become a great entertainer and mother/grandmother. Shortly before her death she spoke of the Robin Williams suicide. And then, she was gone. Two great people gone and now we’re left to wonder. Great vignette of her memorial, Patti. 😢