In 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, died when their single-engine plane, piloted by Kennedy, plunged into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
I remember hearing the first words of the missing plane and who was on it and knowing it was over. I knew the circumstances, watched it unfold as did everyone because John John was royalty. He was also this guy who was always downtown in Soho, on his bike, or roller blades. at bars and always a big flirt.
One summer night in 1998, out with friends celebrating Max ‘s having passed the BAR exam. We were down on West Broadway at Lucky Strike and Box a very Euro bar with great drinks. JFK jr. came in, and went to the bar. Notoriously he had not passed the BAR in his first attempt, and had real difficulty passing it later. I always saw him but I would never approach him, there was no reason to and he was always surrounded by women anyway. So the joke/idea was that we should ask him to join us for a toast to Max for his achievement, passing the BAR on his first try. It was teasing and mean and I don’t do mean. There was no way I would go through with it even though the bar was rather quiet that night and the fact was John John had looked over a few times and smiled his famous smile in our direction. My friends kept telling me to go over, he was looking and I was being ridiculous, but I had no intention.
As he was leaving, he veered toward our table and said “Hope you are having a good night,” looking and locking eyes with me and then smiled the killer smile and walked out. Well my “cool” friends all burst out into nervous laughter as I turned crimson red. I was so happy they never went through with their childish dig.
A year later he was married and missing and everyone I knew was crushed ,shocked and in disbelief. How could it be in real life, that this could happen to him? I mean why? The Kennedy curse just would not relent. I remember my first thought was, thank G-d Jackie O. had passed, and about Caroline and her utter despair over her baby brother. The Bessette family losing two daughters in a national tragedy. The search went on for over three days but I grieved knowing there was no surprise ending.
It was like Princess Diana all over again. It devastated the country and the world.
I am a sentimental person so I shared that silly story. Rest in peace, John, Carolyn and Lauren you are not forgotten.
WHO KNEW? 
So many years later and I still lose a heartbeat when I remember John is no longer with us. My whole life I always felt drawn to John in the media, not because of his celebrity, but because he always seemed to have a very close relationship to his mother, as did I. When a young son is close with hi mother growing up, his entire being and development is changed because if it. I think you develop a profound sense of compassion, appreciation, and understanding for the opposite sex. It also makes you more compassionate to people in general. I loved John because I sensed he had developed that kind of upbringing being so close to Jackie, and also because he was, simply put, a class act. God bless you John.
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Great story V. I remember seeing his old condo in NYC when I was there a few years back. If I remember correctly (and I probably don’t), it was near the fire station where they filmed Ghostbusters II.
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Good job on this blog. It sucks that happened to such a promising young guy. I can’t believe it’s been almost 10 years now.
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Wow, a brush with greatness. While I address my congressman by his first name and think him a great guy he doesn’t have quite the Kennedy flair.
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Nice story….Reminds me of a time I had 4yrs ago when I met Anna Kournakova at a tennis match. As we speak I wait for July 22nd to come next week because I will again be at a tennis match in Albany NY with my new Pentax DSLR and will hope that we connect 1/2 as good as we did 4yrs ago…She just had a 3 page story about her in my last issue of Sports Ill. I will be posting my photos I get w/her in Albany after next week…
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Fantastic Yoonamaniac. I grew up w/ the Kennedy children and this is a nice reminder of what class John had. Thanks!
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Nicely done.
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