LESS THAN two weeks ago, longtime friend Ruth Lin called to invite me to the wedding of her son Andrew Lin to Marilyn Mariano. She said her son-in-law James Gandolfini and daughter Deborah would be attending. A few days later on June 19, Gandolfini, 51, died unexpectedly, and I called Ruth to express condolences. The award-winning actor suffered a heart attack while in Italy to receive a film festival award.
In 2008 I attended the wedding of former model Deborah, then 40, and Gandolfini at Central Union Church. A reception followed at the Kahala Hotel. The Gandolfinis have an 8-month-old daughter, Liliana Ruth Gandolfini. Ruth flew to L.A. after learning of the death to be by her daughter’s side, and they flew to New York for this week’s services. Andrew, who is close to his sister, joined them for private services Wednesday, the same day Broadway honored Gandolfini by dimming theater marquees for a minute. A public funeral was held Thursday at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, the city’s largest place of worship. Ruth said Deborah was holding up despite heavy pressure from the media and paparazzi.
Gandolfini appeared in movies and onstage, but his greatest role was on TV as Tony Soprano, the New Jersey Mafia boss in HBO’s huge hit "The Sopranos," which ran from 1999 through 2007. He was born in New Jersey, and Gov. Chris Christie ordered all state buildings to fly flags at half-staff to honor the actor Monday, the day his body was returned to the U.S.
Looking back at the happy 2008 wedding reception, Gandolfini and Ruth cracked up the crowd of 200 in a friendly fight for the microphone as emcee Esmund Chung, who had taken a shot from Ruth about how he introduced her, stood by. Gandolfini told Chung to call her Mrs. Lin, then gave up the mic to Ruth and said he was her "humble servant." Ruth, who has danced hula and acted professionally, danced during the reception. Gandolfini’s then 8-year-old son, Michael, from a previous marriage, was his dad’s best man. Michael and some of Gandolfini’s visiting pals put on hula skirts and tried to hula to "All You Need Is Love." One of Gandolfini’s close pals at the party was Tony Sirico, a regular on "The Sopranos" as "Paulie Walnuts." Gandolfini had strong respect for the U.S. military, and Sirico made trips with him to visit troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in Asia. The Gandolfinis attended Ruth’s surprise birthday party in 2011 at the Chart House. (Andrew, Deborah and Ruth are all Roosevelt High grads.) …
KAHALA HOTEL is livening things up on its recently remodeled Veranda Lounge with the Sunday Scene and Jazz Mondays, both from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The Scene offers a mix of fusion, blues, Latin-influenced and contemporary Hawaiian artists. This Sunday, Joshua Kaye on piano, Dean Taba on bass and drummer Bonny B. are featured. Jazz Monday will spotlight guitarist Robert Shinoda, DeShannon Higa on trumpet and Bonny B. House piano man David Swanson plays and sings contemporary favorites Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 to 11 p.m. Guests may dance …
CONGRATULATIONS to Liana Mulleitner, who has been named marketing director for Halekulani Corp. Liana will be responsible for all marketing programs and initiatives, as well as public relations and communications, for the Halekulani and Waikiki Parc Hotels …
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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
