Norman Lear

The First Meeting: 1980

I first met Norman Lear in 1980. I was a newbie to comedy, only started in 1978. I was asked to perform at the 2nd Media Access Awards dinner and Norman was in my audience that evening. I received a standing ovation, and Norman greeted me after the show. He introduced himself, but because I am hearing impaired, I honestly didn't know who I was talking to.

He said, "You know, you're really funny kid, but you are way before your time!" I replied, "So, wait a couple months." He laughed and walked away. Then we ran into one another again later in the elevator and I asked, "What's your name again?" He smiled and said, "Norman Lear, and don't forget it".

Boy did I feel stupid!! However, I am sure I was endeared to him even more so, because of the refreshing innocence that he picked up on. And sure enough, about two months later he cast me as "Cousin Geri" on the NBC series, "The Facts of Life"! It was a surreal time for a very young 23-year-old.

I Love Liberty: The Mic Wasn't On!

Then in 1982 he cast me in a star-studded show on ABC called "I Love Liberty". This was even more surreal than "Facts"!! He wanted me to play the role of the American Disabled Person. I told him that I didn't think I was disabled enough for the role. He quite amused when I asked him if I could use crutches, so that I could look really disabled. He said, "Okay, if that's what you want."

I was performing along the likes of Christopher Reeve, Barbra Streisand, Mary Tyler Moore, Jane Fonda, Patty Duke, even John Wayne, to name a few of about 30 well known celebrities. My audience consisted of 20,000 people. I mean, I was petrified! I walked up three long stairs to the stage on crutches, and went into a comedy routine. 20,000 people did not laugh! At one point I saw my entire life flash in front of me, and thought to myself, "Wow, what a short career!" I still tried to get them to laugh, to no avail. Then I dropped my crutches on the stage, almost in tears and said, "I think I just bombed, need help."

Norman himself ran to my rescue. He initially felt that I was having a nervous breakdown, and that he may have asked me to do too much too soon. Holding me in his arms in front of 20,000 people, he asked "Are you alright???" I pulled back from his grip and said "I'm fine, but you know what… the material sucks!!!" He put his hands on my shoulders and said, "Geri, read my lips.... your mic wasn't on!!"

All the celebrities, with the exception of Patty Duke thought that he was going to walk me off the stage, and cut me from the show. But he and Patty knew intuitively that I was hearing impaired. He asked me if I was willing perform again from the beginning, but this time with a working mic. When I agreed to do it, he asked the audience, "How many people here want to give this girl a second chance?" The entire audience gave me a standing ovation, and I was a hit!!

I guess the moral of this story is that Norman does not give up and he saw something in me that was promising. He and I both never forgot that night, as I got two standing ovations! Over the years, he always had an open-door policy with me. We shared many lunches together, and he even allowed me to spend two days with him interviewing him for an article I wrote on him for Ability Magazine. He was my friend, my mentor, and like a second Dad to me.

The Doorstopper

One Father's Day I gifted him with a clear plastic door stopper and a crystal, symbolic of spirit. The card I wrote said something to the effect, thank you for believing in me, for creating employment and for always having an open door for me. After mailing it, I felt stupid, and second guessed myself.

You can only imagine how overwhelmed I felt when I received an email from him the day after Father's Day! Dear Geri, getting up there in years (he was 90), I cannot tell you how much your gift meant to me. I mean, in my entire life, no one ever gave me a doorstopper!! Thank you! Love, Norman.

The Last Visit

Over four decades we remained close. He oftentimes called me just to say hello. The last time I saw him, he was 100 years old and invited me over to his home and I showed him the manuscript of my book, "Geri's Jewels & Gems." I took a deep breath, and asked him if he would write the foreword. Excitedly, I explained "It's a coffee table book!" He thought about it for a minute, and then asked "But what if they don't have a coffee table?" He then smiled, and said "Of course I will!" That was the last time I saw him; he did write my book foreword, but didn't live long enough to see it published in May 2024. I am certain he knows about it and I feel his warm presence often.

If I Live to Be 100: The Wisdom of Centenarians

In the book, If I Live to Be 100, award-winning photographer Paul Mobley captures the spirit, strength, and wisdom of more than fifty remarkable Americans who have each lived for a century or more. Traveling across all fifty states, Mobley sought the nation's oldest and wisest citizens, individuals whose lives have witnessed world wars, the Great Depression, space exploration, civil rights movements, and the rise of the digital age.

Through intimate portraits, candid quotes, and moving personal stories, this collection reveals the resilience, humor, and humanity that come with a life well lived. Each centenarian shares lessons earned over decades of perseverance, reminding us that joy and sorrow, love and loss, and above all, hope shape a full and meaningful life.

Mobley's stunning photographs, paired with the centenarians' voices, offer not only an inspiring glimpse into history through lived experience but also a powerful reminder of what truly endures.

With a heartfelt foreword written in 2016 by legendary television producer Norman Lear, who was age 94 at the time and who lived to 101 (born July 27, 1922 d. December 5, 2023), If I Live to Be 100 is both a tribute to America's elders and an invitation for all generations to listen, learn, and be inspired.