True Hollywood Story. Reflecting back on the tragedy, Mansfield later said, "Something went out of my life. . Jayne Marie was born on November 8, 1950, and, as her name suggests, she was named after her and Mariskas late mother. Mariska Hargitay grew up to be an actress, starring on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Mariska Hargitay Opens Up About The Accident That Killed Her Mother Instagram. Ahead is what we know about Mariska Hargitays siblings and their Hollywood careers. Sadly, Mansfield died in a car accident in 1967. His final on-screen appearance was a cameo on "Law and Order: SVU" in 2003 in which he played a witness to a crime and shared a scene with his daughter Mariska. He was born on December 21, 1958, and is named after his late father. . The former Mr. Universe - and Mariska's dad - passes away. After the war, when the communists were taking over, Hargitay moved to the United States to avoid being drafted into the military. . Inside Jayne Mansfield's Relationship With Mickey Hargitay A private service was held for the family. Miraculously, the sleeping children in the back . By 1964, the couple had divorced. And along came Mickey Hargitay, a great all-around athlete". (1957). She paid a similar tribute to him at last year's Golden Globes, saying: "You are my hero. Promises! On June 29, 1967, on the way to a morning TV interview, Mansfield, along with Brody and a hired driver, were traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the front seats of a Buick Electra after a nightclub performance in Biloxi, Mississippi. Like the other Hargitay siblings, Tony, whose full name is Antonio Raphael Ottaviano Cimber, also works in Hollywood as an actor and director. He even guest-starred in a 2003 episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," the show in which his daughter Mariska plays a leading role. In Hungary, Hargitay had been a champion soccer player, an award-winning speed skater, and an accomplished acrobatic dancer. Mickey Hargitay was a magnificent individual with a positive attitude. So were Mansfield's other two children from her marriage to ex-husband and former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration subsequently regulated that all tractor-trailers have a rear under guard installed, now often known as the Mansfield bar. He played a baby in 1962s It Happens in Athens when he was 4 years old. They married in 1958 and starred in four movies together:Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, The Loves of Hercules, Promises! [2] He was married to actress Jayne Mansfield and is the father of actress Mariska Hargitay. This story has been shared 101,613 times. Nevertheless, many more people saw her photograph than her moviesin just nine months, from September 1956 to May 1957, Mansfield reportedly appeared in an astonishing 2,500 newspaper photographs. Mariska Hargitay's Parents - Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay Overview. He fled Hungary in 1947 to escape Soviet conscription. Mariska Hartigay attends "Nightcap" Season 2 New York Premiere Party at Crosby Street Hotel on June 6, 2017 | Photo: GettyImages. However, the relationship between Mansfield and Hargitay was a tumultuous one, and in 1964 Mansfield married director Matt Cimber, with the two having worked together in Bus Stop. Mansfield proved to have a no-holds-barred for self-marketing, and she took steps to distinguish herself from the many curvy blonde starlets attempting to make it big in Hollywood at the time. Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Jayne Mansfield, Birth Year: 1933, Birth date: April 19, 1933, Birth State: Pennsylvania, Birth City: Bryn Mawr, Birth Country: United States. . Mariska and her brothers were also in the car at the time, but survived. Thanks for contacting us. Mariska Hargitay on how mom Jayne Mansfield's death impacted - TODAY Momma was the important woman in our home. Mickey Hargitay married his third wife, Ellen, in 1967, and they remained together until his death, per the IMDb. Parents: Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. I understand [my mother] in a new way that gives me peace. We've received your submission. Mariska is a renowned American actress, director, and executive producer. September 19, 2006 / 10:08 AM Jayne died in 1967 from . In their divorce decree, Mansfield had agreed to pay child support, as well as to give Hargitay approximately $70,000 in cash and property. Ellen embraced all the kids as if they were her own, as Mariska recalled in a Good Housekeeping interview: "I called her mom. The Stunning Transformation Of Mariska Hargitay - TheList.com The couple wed in Mexico, even though it was later ruled she had not officially divorced Hargitay. Trust me. Promises!, among other projects. Surrounded by loved ones, the "Law . His impressive physique was featured in the fitness and bodybuilding magazines that exploded in popularity in the 1950s. As noted by Outsider, Mariska Hargitay was just 3 years old when she was in a terrible car accident with her mother, Jayne Mansfield, along with her brothers, her mother's boyfriend, and the driver of the vehicle. Hargitay was born in Budapest to an athletic father. Fans of actress Mariska Hargitay know her best from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Her portrayal of tough-as-nails cop Olivia Benson won her a Primetime Emmy in 2006 along with countless other nominations. She also modeled for the newly mintedPlayboy magazine at various times during the 1950s. Parents: Jayne Mansfield and Matt Climber. In my life, certainly, Ive tried to avoid pain, loss, feeling things. Jayne, for her part, was married to soldier Paul Mansfield from 1950 to 1958. The Tragic 2006 Death Of Mariska Hargitay's Father, Mickey Hargitay 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, School shooting survivor has emotional audition on "American Idol", Tiffany & Co. names BTS star Jimin as brand ambassador. Luckily for the family, Ellen recovered, and she was by Mickey Hargitays side until his passing in 2006 at age 80. Tina is Mariskas half-sister and her eldest sibling. Mickey Hargitay, the Hungarian-born bodybuilder who won the 1955 Mr. Universe title, married the voluptuous actress Jayne Mansfield and went on to have his own acting career, died Thursday in Los Angeles. Hargitay and Siano remained married until his death. Jayne Mansfield : The Girl Couldn't Help It - Google Books Mickey Jr. Hargitay. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. From then on, as one journalist put it, Mansfield "suffered so many on-stage strap and zipper mishaps that nudity was, for her, a professional hazard." Mansfield later became involved in a rocky, reputedly abusive relationship with Sam Brody, the attorney she hired to assist with her divorce proceedings. Remember Me (2018) Remember Me Too (2018) Mea Culpa (2018) Alta Kockers (2018) One More Tale Of Two Victims (2021) Their limousine smashed into the back of a truck, killing Mansfield. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The car crash that killed Jayne Mansfield also decapitated her. Mickey Hargitay Obituary (2006) - Los Angeles, CA - Legacy Not much is known about Tina, but she and Mariska remain close. One night, as Mr. Hargitay would tell it, Ms. Mansfield came to the show and when asked what she wanted for dinner said, Ill have a steak and the man on the left., On Jan. 13, 1958, Ms. Mansfield and Mr. Hargitay were married. The home has sold twice more since that time. However, the scar she has on the side of her head serves as a constant reminder of it. In recent years, however, Hargitay began to understand her mother and embrace her memory more. He had been hired to perform as a muscleman in Mae Wests nightclub act at the Latin Quarter in New York. The couple were married from 1948 to 1956. One of their children is the actress Mariska Hargitay ("Law and Order: SVU"). Mariska Hargitay - Biography - IMDb Mickey Hargitay (January 6, 1926 September 14, 2006), born Mikls Karoly Hargitay, was a Hungarian-American[1] actor and the 1955 Mr. Universe. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! [citation needed], In May 1963, Hargitay and Mansfield filed for divorce in Ciudad Jurez. A dynasty's sinking ship. Mansfield endured a childhood tragedy at the age of 3 when her father passed away from a heart attack while driving with the family. Ive spent the last 50 how old am I? Mariska, then 3, and two of her brothers were sleeping in the backseat and only sustained minor injuries. The Hungarian bodybuilder started weight lifting only at 26 but announced he wanted to be Mr. Universe soon thereafter. Actor and world champion bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, who was once married to 1950s sex siren Jayne Mansfield and whose daughter is Emmy-winning actress Mariska Hargitay, has died. Now I understand the love she had in her, and it makes me feel closer to her.. Mickey Hargitay Net Worth (Actor) Actress Mariska Hargitay's siblings names, photos, and profiles - msn.com The couple had three children together before divorcing in 1964. Adoption was a bumpy ride very bumpy. Tony is Mariskas half younger brother from her mom Jayne Mansfields marriage to director Matt Climber. [5] He was inspired to begin bodybuilding after seeing a magazine cover featuring Steve Reeves, famed for playing Hercules. 'Law & Order: SVU': Crucial Advice Mariska Hargitay Received - Outsider Promises!" On June 29, 1967, around 2 AM, a car carrying Jane Mansfield and three of her children, including actress Mariska Hargitay, slammed into the back of a semi-truck on a dark Louisiana highway. }, First published on September 19, 2006 / 10:08 AM. He was also a good soccer player. Her mother, Jayne Mansfield, was a sex symbol in the 50s and 60s. [6], Hargitay with Mansfield in Los Angeles in 1956, Hargitay with Mansfield and children in London in 1959, Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 17:10, National Amateur Body-Builders' Association, "Mickey Hargitay, 80; Bodybuilder Popularized the Sport", "Mickey Hargitay, 80, Actor and Former Mr. Universe, Dies", "Mickey Hargitay, Ex-Hercules & Father of Mariska, Dies", "Mariska's Dad Mickey Hargitay Dies at 80", "Mickey Hargitay, Father Of Mariska, Dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mickey_Hargitay&oldid=1141758049, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 17:10. Mansfield was 16 years old when she met a 20-year-old named Paul Mansfield at a Christmas party and immediately fell for him. Hes worked on shows like 2019s The Original Ladies of Wrestling, 1986s GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and 2000s Mystery: Mysteries of Cathedrals. While on U.S. Route 90, their car hit the rear end of a trailer-truck, instantly killing the actor, Brody, and Harrison. Zoltan Hargitay was born on August 1, 1960, in Santa Monica, California, the USA to his parents, Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. He was born on August 1, 1960 and is the second child of Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay, who married in 1958 and divorced in 1964. Mickey Hargitay, 80, Actor and Former Mr. Universe, Dies She really claimed us. "My dad's a bit of a superhero," Mariska Hargitay told the National Public Radio show "Fresh Air" last year. Hargitay's career continued following his divorce with appearances in a half-dozen Italian films and horror movies. Thats been kind of my superpower, and the gift of having trauma early in life. Mariska Hargitay remembers mom Jayne Mansfield, saying she's - TODAY They had three children: Mikls, Zoltn, and Mariska. Mr. Hargitay, the father of Emmy Award-winning actress Mariska Hargitay, died of multiple myeloma Sept. 14, said his wife of 38 years, Ellen. Hargitay opened up about her painful loss and dealing with her grief while she was being raised by her father, Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. Zoltan Hargitay: Everything About Jayne Mansfield's son Mickey Hargitay was an American actor who worked as an acrobat in Hungary before moving to the US. Besides Mariska, Hargitay is survived by his wife, Ellen, sons Mickey Jr. and Zoltan, and another daughter, Tina. Miklos Jeffrey Palmer Hargitay was born on December 21, 1958, Zoltan Antony Hargitay was born on August 1, 1960, and Mariska Magdolina Hargitay was born on January 23, 1964. He appeared on the cover of Strength and Health magazine, which led to his casting in actress Mae West's popular revue, featuring a line of muscular men wearing leopard print loincloths posing behind West as she sang and bantered. In some ways, being the daughter of a Hollywood icon has been a burden, Hargitay toldCloser Weekly. Depending on one's point of view, the bodybuilder-cum-screen actor Mickey Hargitay, who has died aged 80, can either be thanked or blamed for the career of Arnold . Hargitay also did much of the remodeling work on Mansfield's famous home, known as the "Pink Palace," including installing a heart-shaped swimming pool with "I love you Janie" emblazoned in gold mosaic across the bottom (via Architectural Digest.) "Talk about a late bloomer!" Hargitay says. He was spotted by Mae West who asked him to join her team of musclemen in her Las Vegas night club, the Mae West Revue. I dont believe the little girl in the photo above is Mariska. Born in Budapest, Hargitay moved to the United States in 1947 and eventually became a U.S. The way Ive lived with loss is to lean into it, Mariska said. 'Law and Order: SVU' Fans Can't Get Over Mariska Hargitay's Tribute It was there that he met Broadway novelty Jayne Mansfield, who he married amid much publicity. Mickey died in 2006 from bone marrow cancer at the age of 80 years old. She really claimed us. The Truth About Jayne Mansfield's Relationship With Mickey Hargitay The actress's father, Mickey Hargitay, bought the property in 1977 and built the house in 1988. . And then we transform it, the Joyful Heart Foundation founder continued. He was previously married to Ellen Hargitay, Jayne Mansfield and Mary Birge. Mickey Hargitay, who had also worked as one of Mae West's musclemen. In 2006, Mickey Hargitay died at 80 due to bone marrow cancer. [8] The two fell in love and were described as inseparable. Everythings going to be OK. . Mariska Hargitay's Parents; Jayne Mansfield, Mickey Hargitay - Very Celeb ", "Mickey was such an inspiration and always had such a positive attitude," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. I think a mother is somebody who will kill to protect you, somebody who will love you and make sure that youre always OK, Mariska said. They appeared together in several movies, including The Loves of Hercules, Promises! Mariska Hargitay Has 5 Siblings Jayne Mansfield & Mickey Harigtay's Remarkably, all three children survived. However, the marriage didnt last. Mickey Hargitay was born in Hungary. I understand the journey of life. Mickey Hargitay, 80, bodybuilder and actor - The Boston Globe He married a fellow acrobat named Mary Birge. He was 80. Mansfield was only 34 years old at the time of her death. He has two siblings, Mickey Hargitay Jr and Mariska Hargitay. In English.Larry Anderson When Mansfield noticed Hargitay performing, she allegedly told the waiter, "I'll have a steak and that tall man on the left. Inside Mariska Hargitay's Tragic Real Life Story - NickiSwift.com After Mansfield died, Hargitay, her two brothers and three half-siblings were raised by her dad, former Mr. Universe bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay and her stepmother Ellen. display: block; Jayne Mansfield was connected to many high-profile men during her blonde bombshell days in Hollywood, but she met her match with 1955's Mr. Universe, Mickey . Right now, she's getting ready for "Law & Order: SVU" to start its 23rd season on NBC. Jayne Mansfield was a huge star, per Biography, appearing "in an astonishing 2,500 newspaper photographs" from from September 1956 to . For more about Law & Order, check out True Stories of Law & Order: The Real Crimes Behind the Best Episodes of the Hit TV Show by Kevin Dwyer and Jur Fiorillo. He lived with Siano for 39 years, until his death. In June 1967, Mariska and her brothers Zoltan and Mickey Jr. were in the back seat of a car when it was involved in the fatal accident which killed . She is the daughter of Jayne Mansfield, the 1950s blond sex symbol, and Mickey Hargitay, a former Mr. Universe . She was just so ahead of her time, said Mariska of her mother. Sept. 20, 2006. Mariska (Ma-rish-ka) Magdolna Hargitay was born on January 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California. Best Known For: Jayne Mansfield was an American actress best known for her bombshell curves and film roles during the 1950s and '60s. In the early morning hours of 29 June 1967, on a narrow country road near a Louisiana swamp, a grey 1966 . All Rights Reserved. Jayne Mansfield - Car Accident, Daughter & Movies - Biography Mickey Hargitay, Jayne Mansfield. He is the cousin of Mariska Hargitay, who plays Captain Olivia Benson in SVU, and the nephew of Mariska's father Mickey Hargitay. He was 80. The couple met at the Mae West Revue in 1956, where Mickey was performing. Being a wife and mother is my life, and that gives me the most joy,she said. [citation needed] Hargitay won the National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (NABBA) Mr. Universe award in 1955. Arnold Schwarzenegger played the role of Mickey Hargitay in the 1980 TV-movie The Jayne Mansfield Story. In 1970, Jayne Marie married Barry Lang in Las Vegas. She is the youngest of their three children. Pictures: Mariska Hargitay Jayne Mansfield was only 34-years-old when she died. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Older viewers would recognize the names of her parents. Mickey Hargitay: Jayne Mansfield's Mr. Universe And Love Of Her Life Jayne Mansfield (19331967) was driven not just to be an actress but to be a star. The Truth About Mariska Hargitay's Famous Parents - NickiSwift.com He fled the country in 1947 to escape the compulsory Soviet military draft. Mansfield and Hargitay divorced in 1964, and she went on to marry the director Matt Cimber. But Ive learned instead to really lean into it, because sooner or later you have to pay the piper. So, after Mansfields death, Mickey got custody of Mariska and her siblings, and they went to live with the newlywed couple. Mariska Hargitay Opens Up About the Tragic Car Accident That - Yahoo! All Rights Reserved. I think I learned about crisis very young, and I learned very young that s t happens and theres no guarantees, and we keep going, Hargitay toldGlamour magazinein an interview published earlier this week. Those performances finally established Mansfield as a marquis actress, and she went on to be featured in such films as Kiss Them For Me (1957), co-starring Cary Grant,The Wayward Bus (1957),The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958) andIt Takes a Thief (1960). After Mansfield's death in a car crash on June 29, 1967, Hargitay sued Mansfield's estate for over $5,000 to support the children. Mickey Jr. is the . Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay with Jayne Marie, Miklos, and Zoltan in 1960 | Source: Getty Images. The co-stars married in 1958 and went on to star in three more movies together, "The Loves of Hercules" (1960), "Promises! .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Chris Rock, Doctors: No Further Hope for Actor Tom Sizemore, Raquel Welchs Mixed Feelings about Her Fur Bikini, Andrea Riseboroughs Oscar Controversy, Explained, 10 Milestones on Viola Davis Road to EGOT Glory. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e17ad26-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-9e17ad26-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { Mickey Hargitay - Wikipedia The cause was bone marrow cancer, said Bill Comstock, a spokesman for the family. Zoltan also worked in Hollywood, though he isnt an actor like his sister. 20th Century Fox did not want Hargitay to appear in Rock Hunter because they disliked Mansfield's view of Hargitay as her "only" lover; Fox preferred their sex symbols to be single. Hargitay divorced Birge on September 6, 1956, after he met Jayne Mansfield. "[8] The couple married on January 13, 1958. Mariska Hargitay is truly grateful to Olivia Benson no, not Taylor Swift's rich cat but the badass character that she's portrayed for the better part of 24 seasons of NBC's Law & Order . Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Jayne Mansfield - Wikipedia "Words cannot express how saddened we are by the loss of Mickey," the statement said. Hargitay married Ellen Siano in September 1967. According to The New York Times, the cause of death was bone marrow cancer. Zoltan was with Mariska and their older brother, Mickey Jr., when their mother died in a car crash in 1967. Mickey Hargitay would have been 80 years old at the time of death or 89 years old today. But on the other side things can be so bright.. While Hargitay and her brothers only suffered minor injuries, her mother and mother's boyfriend died along with the driver. Every time I tried to step out on my own, I was in trouble with her. Hargitay died Thursday in Los Angeles, according to a family statement issued Monday through publicist Gary Mantoosh. Joining other family members in the acting profession is Mickey's nephew and godson, the actor Eddie Hargitay. Mariska Hargitay is an award-winning actress who as of this writing holds the record for"the longest serving actress in the same role in the history of American live-action prime time television," according to the IMDb, having played Olivia Benson on "Law and Order: SVU" since 1999, totaling 23 seasons. Mariska's Dad Mickey Hargitay Dies at 80 - PEOPLE.com That same year, he made his big-screen debut in "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue." Promises! (1963) and L'Amore Primitivo (1964). Not too many revealing details are shared online about Hargitay Jr., but he did get to showcase some acting chops as a 4-year-old in 1962's It Happens in Athens. Mickey Hargitay was born on January 6, 1926 in Budapest, Hungary (80 years old). Later that year, she gave birth to a daughter, Jayne Marie. He gets some brownie points for being the first child of Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay, as well. He appeared as a pin-up model in fitness magazines. Promises! He and his brother Eddie Hargitay performed acrobatic acts throughout Hungary. 2006), Jayne Mansfield (m. 1958 div. They are the parents of actress Mariska Hargitay. Front view of the 1966 Buick Electra that killed Jayne Mansfield, Sam Brody and Ronnie Harrison. In the later years of her career, Mansfield also returned to the stage with an acclaimed turn in Bus Stopand developed into a successful Vegas headliner and nightclub performer. He discovered the joys of muscle training and toning. "CBS Mornings" team slimed for KCAs When Mickey Hargitay emigrated to the United States, he initially lived in Cleveland, where he did acrobatics and also worked as a plumber and carpenter. He, and actress Jayne Mansfield, are the . The mother of three previously spoke about her loss in a 2018 profile for People magazine. The family moved to Dallas, Texas. Promises! He went on to enter body building competitions, including Mr. Indianapolis and Mr. Indiana, eventually winning the coveted title of Mr. Universe in 1955. Mansfield enjoyed a middle-class upbringing and was later reported to be an above-average student under the oversight of her strict mother who enjoyed taking up languages. Mansfield took voice, dance and violin lessons and would frequently stand out in her driveway playing her violin for passersby on the sidewalk. He died at age 80 from bone marrow cancer. and "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?". While they may not have starred on a hit TV show for 20 years like SVU, many of Mariska Hargitays siblings did quite well for themselves in show business. Later, Hargitay moved to the U.S to avoid being drafted into the military. The act was so popular that the brothers performed throughout all Hungary, including the largest opera house in Budapest. Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (1957) was Hargitay's debut film as well as his first film with Jayne Mansfield. 1956), children: Mariska Hargitay, Mickey Hargitay Jr., Tina Hargitay, Zoltan Hargitay, place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States, See the events in life of Mickey Hargitay in Chronological Order, (Hungarian-American Actor and the 1955 Mr. Universe), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZTqpl6lhgI, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mickey_Hargitay#/media/File:Jayne_Mansfield,_Mickey_Hargitay_and_children_1959.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mickey_Hargitay#/media/File:Promises!_Promises!_(1963)_trailer_1.jpg. Death and Estate. The marriage of Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield wasn't the first one for either star. The movie was released in the United States in 1966. Hargitay and her husband, Peter Hermann, have been married since 2004 and have three children together: 11-year-old August and 6-year-olds Amaya and Andrew. He was also an underground fighter during World War II. Losing my mother at such an early age is the scar of my soul, she told Red Book. The couple were married from 1950 to 1958 and had one child. Before joining Hollywood, he won many titles in bodybuilding, including the National American Body Builders Association (NABBA) Mr. Universe 1955. Mickey (Mikls) Hargitay - California's Hungarian muscle man Mariska Hargitay suffered trauma at an early age when her mother, Hollywood starlet Jayne Mansfield, died in 1967. During their marriage, Hargitay and Mansfield made four movies together: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Actor Mickey Hargitay Dead At 80 - CBS News - CBS News - Breaking news [5] After Mae West saw his photo on a magazine cover, Hargitay joined West's muscleman revue. He was 80. Actor: The Loves of Hercules. After Hargitay died on September 14, 2006, Schwarzenegger released the following statement, per CBS News: "Mickey was such an inspiration and always had such a positive attitude.