Bob Davies, R.I.P.

[Derek McGovern]

Very sad news: I've just learned from a post on the Lanza Legend that Bob Davies, President of the Rugby (England)-based Friends of Mario Lanza and a member of this forum, passed away yesterday. Bob appears to have died in his sleep. He was 73.

Bob was a great character, with a terrific sense of humour. When he was hospitalized about six years ago with a serious chest infection, Muriella and I both called him at the hospital and we were amazed at how full of life he was, despite his ailments. I remember that he had me in stitches with his stories!

Bob's last posts here were about the DVD of the London Palladium, and it was actually thanks to him that we found about the DVD in the first place.

He will be much missed, as much for his sense of life as for his enthusiasm for all things Lanza. R.I.P., Bob.

I'd like to close with a sweet post of his -- actually, an uncharacteristically reflective one -- from just over four years ago, and written for the previous incarnation of this forum:

Old Age

Is it me, or is it time taking over? I put on a CD of Mario today (I was on my own for a change with no distractions) and with every track, I could picture where I was when I first heard each track and what I was doing at the time. It was a really strange experience.  No other voice has ever done this to me; Danny Kaye was my mentor before I heard Mario and I still love a lot of his legacy, but Mario seems to be there all the time, even when I am playing other singers.

Mario always lets me relax when I hear him; he seems to generate a kind of scenario that tells me that he enjoys what he is doing and wants me to enjoy it too.....and I do. What is the secret? I have no idea.  It is just a magical quality that just will not let you go....and you don't want to go !  You just want to go along and let it transport you to a magic place where everything is good.

In my, shall we say, Autumn life, Mario is still the compelling force that wakes me up in the mornings and makes me feel I should be grateful for being allowed to still be able to help keep his talent alive in my own modest way.

Bob

 

[Lou]

Very sad news indeed. The world of true blue Lanza fans is poorer for the passing of one of its stalwarts. Farewell, Bob. May you rest in peace.

[Michael McAdam]

Oh dear..I hadn't seen this sad post until a few minutes ago. Bob was a rare guy. A real dyed-in-the-wool Lanza fan with a generosity and humour that will be missed. I had an email out of the blue from him just a month or two back (after he had played my Student Prince CD for some visitors).

May you meet up with Mario in the great beyond, Mr Somerset Davies.

[Vincent Di Placido]

Sad to hear this news, Bob was always a delight & really loved Mario. Bob sent me some lovely emails over the years, a really nice man...