The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey From Hollywood to Holy Vows (72 page)

With appreciation, the letters of Ina Balin, Joan Crawford, George Cukor, Father Michael Doody, Irene Dunne, Lady Abbess Benedict Duss, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Harriett Pittman Hicks Gordon, June Haver, Dolores Hope, Bill Knotts, Esther Kude, Ethel Levin, Myrna Loy, Paul Nathan, Father Francis Prokes, SJ, Anthony Quinn, Father Armando Salazar, Gene Smith, Loretta Young.

This ten-year commitment frequently needed a cheerleader, and we had the best—the nonagenarian “It Girl”. Thank you, Betty White.

There are several people who have gone the extra mile for us and attention must be paid. Thank you, Father Iain Highet, Mother Irene, Mother Telchilde, Mother Augusta, Mother Rachel, Mother Simonetta, Mother Margaret Georgina, Mother Noella, Mother Anastasia. Thank you, John Allegretti, John Aquino, Alistair Highet, Maria Cooper Janis, Merv Kaufman, Karl Malden, Lawrence Schiller.

We are beholden to these ladies for their caring attention that was above and beyond any expectation. Thank you, Elaine Thérèse Williams, who transcribed our 225 tapes (in spite of Toby’s recurrent and thoughtless squawking) while dreaming, I imagine, of parrot fricassee. Arms around you, Mother Lucia, my Benedictine interpreter, whose emails always began “I don’t know if this will help. . .” It helped.

God bless Susie Grobstein.

Richard DeNeut

Photos

Four generations of Bowen women. I’m in my grandmother Esther Kude’s lap, with great-grandmother Nellie Bowen next to us. My mother, Harriett Pittman Hicks, at the top
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Dolores Marie Hicks (“Punkin” to Daddy) at seven months

I wasn’t unhappy about the toothless look. I thought it made me look like Granny
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Mommy and Daddy loved the sun whether at the beach or in the back yard. They loved being tan. I was always fully clothed because I sunburned easily
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Mommy and her shadow

A portrait of Daddy and Mommy and me at the time we all thought Daddy was going to be a movie star. He sure looked like one. And Mommy did too
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At St. Gregory School in Chicago, Sister Celine suggested I learn to play a musical instrument. I wanted to play the harp. Grandpa favored the clarinet because it was easier to carry
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At the age of nine, with Grandpa, in my First Communion dress. We’re in the cemetery where Grandpa got me my first job—washing tombstones!

At St. Francis de Sales School, I was the pitcher (far right) on the girls’ softball team. But I couldn’t catch to save my soul
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With Chicago pets, parakeets Timmy and Tico, at Granny and Grandpa’s house

My second family with Mom: “Pop” Al Gordon and my stepbrother, Martin, at our home in Sherman Oaks