MAN’S CAPACITY FOR DISPUTATION IS ENDLESS, BUT ALL MEN WILL
AGREE THAT A LOVELY GRACIOUS LADY IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST
ORNAMENTS OF CIVILIZATION. NONY DOOLITTLE WAS A LOVELY,
GRACIOUS LADY.
BORN IN SHANGHAI, SHE WAS A WORLD TRAVELER WHO WAS AT
HOME IN MANY CULTURES AND IN MANY LANGUAGES.
GIFTED BY NATURE WITH BOTH BEAUTY AND VOCAL TALENT, HER EARLY
CAREER IN OPERA AUGERED GREAT SUCCESS IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC.
YET, WHEN SHE MET AND MARRIED JIMMY SHE UNHESITATINGLY PUT
ASIDE HER PROMISING CAREER TO DEVOTE HERSELF TO THE EVER
MORE IMPORTANT ROLE OF A LOVING WIFE AND HELPMATE.
THE CONTRIBUTION THAT JIMMY DOOLITTLE HAS MADE TO THE
CULTURAL LIFE OF THIS CITY, AND INDEED OF THIS NATION, WOULD
HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE INSPIRATION, THE DEDICATION,
THE LOYALTY AND EFFORT OF NONY.
NONY’S BEAUTY, GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE THEATRE MADE HER
INVALUABLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH
THEATRICAL GROUPS FROM EVERY PART OF THE EARTH. THROUGH THEIR
EFFORTS IN BRINGING GREAT ARTISTS TO AMERICA, NONY AND
JIMMY, TOGETHER, BUILT BRIDGES OF CULTURAL GOODWILL BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND MANY OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
AFFLICTED SINCE CHILDHOOD WITH A HEART CONDITION THAT WOULD
HAVE INVALIDED A LESSER PERSON, NONY REFUSED TO TEMPORIZE OR
YIELD TO INFIRMITY. SUCH WAS HER SHINING COURAGE THAT SHE WAS
NEVER HEARD TO COMPLAIN OF AN ILLNESS THAT WOULD HAVE DRIVEN
OTHER PEOPLE TO A CLOISTERED, RETIRED LIFE. SHE WAS AT ALL
TIMES FULLY AWARE OF HER CONDITION BUT MADE NO CONCESSIONS
TO IT AND LIVED HER LIFE WITH A VIBRANT ENERGY THAT WAS AN
INSPIRATION TO ALL WHO KNEW HER. INDEED, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF
HER KNOWLEDGE OF HER CONDITION. HER PERSONALITY GLOWED WITH
A PARTICULAR BRIGHTNESS AND INTENSITY.
NONY LIVED WITH JIMMY IN HARMONY, LOVE AND TRUE COMPANIONSHIP
AND THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF HER LIFE, BRIEF
ALAS AS IT WAS, SHE WILL LEAVE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL
OF US WHO KNEW AND LOVED HER, A SHINING, GRACIOUS AND
EVERLASTING MEMORY.
DEAR NONY, MY LOVE FOREVER - JIM