Stephanie Bernaba recalls the first time she saw Betty White on TV. She was a small girl living with her grandparents in Rhode Island, where they spent many hours watching "The Golden Girls," co-starring White as the endearingly daffy Rose Nylund.
"We would sleep on my grandmother's bed and eat Planter's snacks out of a tin," Bernaba, 43, who runs a small media agency, recalled with a giggle. "We thought the performance was incredibly amusing, but more than anything, I liked watching her. She was very thrilled."
Betty White remembered on what would have been her 100th birthday
White's performance was "a source of wonderful recollections" for Bernaba for decades. She and her granny made a point of watching repeats of "The Golden Girls" for many years, anytime they were together and needed some small-screen consolation.
Bernaba is one of many Betty White admirers around the U.S. who have pondered on the Emmy-winning television star's life since she died Dec. 31 at age 99. Monday would have been her 100th birthday, and some of her fans marked the event, attending celebrations of her career or participating in virtual tributes.
At nearly 900 movie theaters around the nation, the independent distributor Fathom Events presented “Betty White: A Celebration,” a 100-minute documentary produced before her death. (The original subtitle was “100 Years Young – A Birthday Celebration.”)
“During the many years we worked with her, we gained a deep affection and appreciation for Betty as a person, and as an excellent entertainer,” producers Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein said in a joint statement.
“We are appreciative for the many decades of joy she offered to everyone,” they continued.
The video covers White’s enormous production and personal life, particularly her passionate concern for animals. It also boasts cameos by entertainment industry pals such as Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and Carol Burnett.
Leida Rosenberg, 72, and her husband, Barry Spielvogel, 74, risked the cold and Covid danger Monday to attend an evening showing at the AMC Kips Bay 15 in New York City – their first movie theater visit since the start of the epidemic.
"We adored her. We wouldn't miss it," said Rosenberg, a retired schoolteacher.
"We've also been trapped at home for two years," Spielvogel remarked.
Rosenberg said: "She showed us you can still be active even in your elderly age. You don't have to sit home. You may go out and volunteer and do something that you enjoy."
"As long as there's no Covid," Spielvogel remarked.
In the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, where White was born, admirers were asked to pay their condolences in front of a movie theater over the weekend.
The town's small businesses paid tribute, as well, NBC Chicago reported: A coffee shop provided a Betty White Mocha, an Italian restaurant poured glasses of her favorite drink (martinis, for the record), and a bakery sold "Stay Golden" sweets.
The Los Angeles Zoo welcomed people to take a self-guided tour of White’s favorite areas on the facility, while other animal sanctuaries offered condolences. White “cared profoundly about all living beings — including us,” said Denise M. Verret, the CEO and director of the zoo, where White sat on the board.
Meanwhile, the #BettyWhiteChallenge hashtag took viral on Instagram and Twitter. The social media users behind the initiative asked for White's admirers to give $5 to local animal shelters or rescues in her honor Monday.
Google recognized White, too. Anyone who searched her name Monday was met with animated rose petals and a graphic that said in part: “Thank You For Being A Friend” – a homage to “The Golden Girls" theme song.
The honors were a monument to White's wide-reaching impact.
She was praised as a natural television actress, equipped with an easy grin and great timing. She was known as a generation-spanning icon of professional longevity and elegant aging.
Eric Seader, a technical consultant who works with law companies and grew up watching "The Golden Girls," said he was particularly struck by White's engagement on behalf of animals in a time when many prominent people appear to attach themselves to issues only halfheartedly.
"Several celebrities put their weight behind the cause, but few emanate honesty the way she did," Seader, 42, said in a phone interview.
"In an era of politicians and celebrities adjusting their public comments to meet the current trends, Betty’s messages of love, compassion and equality never wavered," he continued.
Barbara Sather, 70, who lives in a suburb of Minneapolis, expressed it more succinctly: "If you love animals so much, you must be a nice person. It tells you what was in her heart."
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