Old "acquaintance" Of John Denvers - Shirley Fonda!

[KRob881602]

Is there anyone out there in JD land that could tell me a little more about a
lady John once had eyes for? I have heard this name "Shirley Fonda" before,
but the information leading to exactly who she was and what her relationship to
John Denver baffles me! I am really curious. I am a huge John Denver fan and
I know alot, but evidently not enough! Was she an old girlfriend? I have a
video tape that I just recently purchased from someone and in the video she is
brought up again. But, John hesitated on offering much info on the matter!
Can anyone out there tell me a little more about who was she? Thank you, and I
look forward to hearing from anyone who really knows anything on this
mysterious woman.

[GBRUCK]

Shirley Fonda was Henry Fonda's wife, a lot younger than Henry and very pretty.
Looked alot like Annie, as a matter of fact. She is not Jane or Peter's mother but
about the same age as Jane, I believe. Never heard that John had a thing for her.
By the way, I think she spelled her name "Shirlee".

Linda B

[aerie]

Shirlee Fonda is someone John dated very briefly, about 1984 or 85. She is
Henry Fonda's widow.

One of the events they attended together was George Burns' 90th Birthday
Celebration.

Nothing really all that mysterious there. Oh and btw, she was 10 years
older than John.

My heart to yours,
Ann

KRob881602 wrote in message <19990326062731...@ng142.aol.com>...

[Fiona or Ezza]

Okay I know that what you really want to know is if John was seeing someone before he
died. Yes?
Well there was a young woman, her name was Joanne, can't remember the surname. She was
his "steady"for a while, about two years and caddied for him at the Pebble Beach comp.
According to the "Enquirer",that reputable mag, they broke up because he was drinking
too much. I believe it was probably more his usual problem of finding young blondes
desirable but not being of their generation. A gap of well over 25 years is a big one
to overcome.
She attended the Memorial service in Denver(someone here said they saw her there and
wondered who she was. The family obviously knew of her.) Jo is very pretty and he met
her when he played golf with her father. They took at least one holiday togeter in
South Africa.
I don't know anymore about her.
love Fiona in Oz

GBRUCK wrote:

> Shirley Fonda was Henry Fonda's wife, a lot younger than Henry and very pretty.
> Looked alot like Annie, as a matter of fact. She is not Jane or Peter's mother but
> about the same age as Jane, I believe. Never heard that John had a thing for her.
> By the way, I think she spelled her name "Shirlee".
>
> Linda B
>
> KRob881602 wrote:
>

[JQUILLY]

Shortly after the story in one of the magazines (Star or Enquirer), John was on
the Tonight Show when Joan Rivers was a guest host. She asked him about the
story in the magazine about him and Shirlee Fonda. She said that she was a
friend of Shirlee's and hadn't heard anything about it from her. She also said
that if he was dating Shirlee, she would have them both come to her place for
dinner. He said that Shirlee seemed like a nice person, but that they were
definetly not dating, and that he really didn't even know her. He said that
they ran into each other at a rather public party and that someone snapped
their picture as he was escorting her accross the room or something. I don't
remember all of the exact conversation, but I do remember that he said that he
definetly was not dating her, and that hardly knew her.

[FoxfirePat]

>I don't know anymore about her.>

I believe Joanne is also from Texas. I saw her at the memorial service. She
had on a crazy colored shirt and I remembered thinking how her and John had the
same taste in clothes.

Pat

[HIITSMELU]

> I don't
>remember all of the exact conversation, but I do remember that he said that
>he
>definetly was not dating her, and that hardly knew her.

Were we watching the same show???? I have that on tape....and Joan, asked about
him and Shirlee, and John said he liked her a lot, but the last thing he wanted
to do was talk about the women in his life, on national TV....then Joan said
the thing about having them over for dinner.....then John said......Soooo I' m
here in town for a month.....and grinned....
and that was the last of that conversation.....
just wondering.....did we see the same show????or was he on again, with Joan
Rivers?????

LuLu.

[aerie]

Joanne's whole name is Joanne Lefson. They didn't break up so much as it
"petered out" -- yeah, I'm sure the age gap was a problem.

Ann

Fiona or Ezza wrote in message <36FC3B32...@ozemail.com.au>...

>Okay I know that what you really want to know is if John was seeing someone
before he
>died. Yes?
>Well there was a young woman, her name was Joanne, can't remember the
surname. She was
>his "steady"for a while, about two years and caddied for him at the Pebble
Beach comp.
>According to the "Enquirer",that reputable mag, they broke up because he
was drinking
>too much. I believe it was probably more his usual problem of finding
young blondes
>desirable but not being of their generation. A gap of well over 25 years
is a big one
>to overcome.
>She attended the Memorial service in Denver(someone here said they saw her
there and
>wondered who she was. The family obviously knew of her.) Jo is very pretty
and he met
>her when he played golf with her father. They took at least one holiday
togeter in
>South Africa.

>I don't know anymore about her.

[JQUILLY]

It may have been poor memory on my part. It was a long time ago, and I may
have "remembered" things as I wanted them to be because I do remember that
Shirlee wouldn't have been my choice for him. It probably was the same show
you have on tape, because I don't remember him being on with Joan Rivers more
than once.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be misleading. I guess I shouldn't talk about
things that happened that long ago.
This was also the show where Joan asked him about what he wanted that he
couldn't have, and he said he wanted a helicopter. She said something about
him being a rich man, and that he could probably afford it. Was that on the
show that you have on tape? What was his reply to that? I didn't have a
recorder back then, and so I'm trying awfully hard to remember everything I
ever saw of him.
Again...sorry for giving false information. I'll not let it happen again.
JQ

[KRob881602]

LuLu- I know what you mean! I do not remember John saying anything about not
dating her, and that he hardly knew her! I remember him saying exactly what
you said about her being a really nice lady, but it was obvious that he was not
ready to kiss and tell! I was the one in the first place that posted the
question regarding Shirlee! I was just curious as to who she was and if she
had any relation to Jane or Henry Fonda. And, by the responses that I have
gotten, I guess that she was Henry Fonda's widow, and that she was ten years
older than John! Whoa!

[KRob881602]

Hey, thanks alot all you JD geniuses out there! I knew you guys would be able
to answer my questions! Oh, but I didn't see if anyone gave a reply to the ear
piercing question I thought I posted yesterday. Hey Ann, do you know when he
got this done? His ear pierced, I mean? I know you will know! Thanks, Kelly
R. (Christy Scheese's Port., OR friend - you know, the poor woman who never got
to see JD perform live in concert!)

[LiteofVega]

>From: krob8...@aol.com

>Oh, but I didn't see if anyone gave a reply to the ear
>piercing question I thought I posted yesterday.

Several did answer that question (Ann and Henry were two that I remember who
did answer).... John got his ear pierced in 1991.

Peace,

Mary in Oklahoma

[Ladron23]

I'm sure sorry you never got to see John
in concert in Portland------for he came
many times here and around Oregon----I
met him backstage at the Rose Garden in
September of 1996----his last concert here.

His last concert in Oregon was June 27th in Jacksonville, Oregon at the Britt
Festival
grounds.

Peace,
Wendy from Beaverton, Oregon

[Christine Moon]

Joanne Lefson is a South African golfer who was John's girlfriend for about
a year. They met on his birthday, 31 Dec 1995, in South Africa. I heard
last October that she had recently married.

Peace, in John's memory,
Christine
moon...@netcomuk.co.uk
"Friends of John Denver" http://surf.to/friends.of.john.denver

[Pamela Beasley]

FoxfirePat wrote:
>
> >I don't know anymore about her.>
>

> I believe Joanne is also from Texas. I saw her at the memorial service. She
> had on a crazy colored shirt and I remembered thinking how her and John had the
> same taste in clothes.
>
> Pat

No, Joanne is from South Africa but she went to college in Texas--at
Texas A & M.

Pam

[Pamela Beasley]

aerie wrote:
>
> Joanne's whole name is Joanne Lefson. They didn't break up so much as it
> "petered out" -- yeah, I'm sure the age gap was a problem.
>
> Ann
>

That is probably an accurate description. I heard him tell a friend
backstage in Austin, Oct. 4, that he wished he could find a special
person, but "they were all too young or too......" That's all I heard
of the statement.

Pam

[LOU]

Hey JQ, not a problem, I just wanted to make sure if he was on twice
with Joan Rivers or not, as for the answer to the Helicopter story, I
don't remember his answer to that question, but I will try to find the
tape and watch it, and then let you know.....Another thing about Joan
teasing John about Shirlee, was that she had big bucks, and John looked
at her kinda of funny, and she said, well you have big money and you
don't want a proper do you????? and laughed!......
If I had a way to copy that tape for you I would, but I
don't.......sorry!!!

LuLu

[Flyushome]

Joanne's last name was Lefson, but that's about all I know--unless you count
what the tabloid's said. Garbage, of course.

Peace,
Pat

[equali...@my-dejanews.com]

In article <0A9D6370493A4D90.54D0BD716761EE12.EC85A87E4E162AE8@library-
proxy.airnews.net>,
pamela....@airmail.net wrote:

> I heard him tell a friend
> backstage in Austin, Oct. 4, that he wished he could find a special
> person, but "they were all too young or too......" That's all I heard
> of the statement.
>

Too young or too blond.

-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own

[Pamela Beasley]

And, alas, Joanne was both!!!

Pam

[20hso...@atljewishacademy.org]

Her name is Joanne Lefson, she is originally from South AFrica. She was once a golf professional

[20hso...@atljewishacademy.org]

On Saturday, March 27, 1999 at 4:00:00 AM UTC-4, Fiona or Ezza wrote:
> Okay I know that what you really want to know is if John was seeing someone before he
> died. Yes?
> Well there was a young woman, her name was Joanne, can't remember the surname. She was
> his "steady"for a while, about two years and caddied for him at the Pebble Beach comp.
> According to the "Enquirer",that reputable mag, they broke up because he was drinking
> too much. I believe it was probably more his usual problem of finding young blondes
> desirable but not being of their generation. A gap of well over 25 years is a big one
> to overcome.
> She attended the Memorial service in Denver(someone here said they saw her there and
> wondered who she was. The family obviously knew of her.) Jo is very pretty and he met
> her when he played golf with her father. They took at least one holiday togeter in
> South Africa.

> I don't know anymore about her.

> love Fiona in Oz
>
> GBRUCK wrote:
>
> > Shirley Fonda was Henry Fonda's wife, a lot younger than Henry and very pretty.
> > Looked alot like Annie, as a matter of fact. She is not Jane or Peter's mother but
> > about the same age as Jane, I believe. Never heard that John had a thing for her.
> > By the way, I think she spelled her name "Shirlee".
> >
> > Linda B
> >
> > KRob881602 wrote:
> >
> > > Is there anyone out there in JD land that could tell me a little more about a
> > > lady John once had eyes for? I have heard this name "Shirley Fonda" before,
> > > but the information leading to exactly who she was and what her relationship to
> > > John Denver baffles me! I am really curious. I am a huge John Denver fan and
> > > I know alot, but evidently not enough! Was she an old girlfriend? I have a
> > > video tape that I just recently purchased from someone and in the video she is
> > > brought up again. But, John hesitated on offering much info on the matter!
> > > Can anyone out there tell me a little more about who was she? Thank you, and I
> > > look forward to hearing from anyone who really knows anything on this
> > > mysterious woman.

Her name is Joanne Lefson, she is originally from South Africa. They were dating right at the time of his death. She used to be a professional golfer in SOuth Africa. She is also famous for her terrier dog, named "Oscar" who she rescued in South AFrica. She sold everything she owned, and embarked on a trip around the world with her beloved dog Oscar. This even included a trip to Las Vegas, where she and her dog Oscar were Married ;)
Sadly, when her dog was 10 years old, she backed up over the dog, killing him.

[20hso...@atljewishacademy.org]

On Saturday, March 27, 1999 at 4:00:00 AM UTC-4, FoxfirePat wrote:
> >I don't know anymore about her.>
>

> I believe Joanne is also from Texas. I saw her at the memorial service. She
> had on a crazy colored shirt and I remembered thinking how her and John had the
> same taste in clothes.
>
> Pat

Joanne Lefson is from South Africa. She was a professional golfer and that is how she met John. They were dating at the time of his death.

[hobbs...@gmail.com]

Her name is Joanne Lefson, a pro golfer from South Africa. Very unassuming and pleasant person I met while in San Diego at a dinner party when she was married to a PhD who was employed by Sea World and worked with the Shamu show. She moved back to Cape Town and wrote a book about travels with her dog, the first dog to climb Everest.

[eagib...@gmail.com]

If you want more information about Joanne Lefson go on YouTube and search "John Denver autopsy". It will bring up a show where she's interviewed. They were together two years up until the time that he died. It did not peter out. She says some things that are kind of interesting which infer that John's relationship with Cassie was not good at all. Anyway, if you read the article Peaks and Valleys, that you can Google on the internet, it is obvious that John did not want their relationship out in the media. This is at the tail end of the article. That's why most people don't know much about Joanne Lefson and and John's relationship with her. You have to listen to the interview that she did to know that they were still together, but she was on vacation to Mexico when he died. The last time she saw him was 2 days before. A week before the death they were playing golf together.