"Do Fancy Things For The World"--Celia Fitzgerald

There's a million things swirling thru my head today. But the strongest thought is of Celia Rose T. Fitzgerald. We called her Cece. A beautiful little girl we knew in New York City. Cece was my niece's best friend from pre-school and we all spent numerous hours together playing dress up, making up songs, drawing pictures or eating ice cream and french fries. She had an amazing laugh, with a fabulous smile, and always a word of kindness for others. When they were about five years old, my niece was upset about a little outfit she was wearing (she wanted to wear something else, it didn't happen...tears ensued) and Cece, who I was walking with down the street with, put her hand on my niece's arm and said something like, "don't cry, sofia, i think you look beautiful." I'm sure I shed my own tear right then. It's just the way Cece was.

Celia died in a skiing accident on February 10th, three years ago. It was devastating to her family and ours. One of the last times I saw Cece was when she was playing Ms. Hannigan in a local production of Annie. All these fantastic little kids, running around, singing their hearts out, and there was Cece, in the middle of it, singing...."so busy, so crazy"! I took a bunch of photos that day and treasure them so much.
Soon after Cece left this earth, her very loving parents created a wonderful service to society and to Cece's memory, by starting a scholarship foundation. It supports children and young adults who are "gifted in the arts and have financial need". I feel very honored to know the first recipient and to have since seen theatre arts shows put on in Cece's name, groups that are specifically spreading the word, the love, of Celia Rose T. Fitzgerald. And, today, I hope to do the same.