Frank Sinatra

Re “A Legend’s Voice Is Silent,” May 16: In 1941 I was in high school in a very small town in Pennsylvania. My closest friend and I invited our two prettiest schoolmates to a football game at West Point, N.Y., and thence to a big band dance at Meadowbrook in New Jersey, where I had my first viewing of a very popular, skinny 25-year-old singer named Frank Sinatra. The band was Tommy Dorsey’s. The vocalists were Sinatra and Jo Stafford with the Pied Pipers as backup quartet. I remember the dance floor was huge, the cover charge was $6 and the future chairman of the board sang his big hit, “I’ll Never Smile Again,” which was the No. 1 song at the time. My second and final viewing of Sinatra was in the ‘50s in New York City in front of the High School for the Performing Arts.

Now Frank is lead vocalist backed up by a choir of angels. My friend on that trip was a paratrooper and was killed in action at Bastogne. One of our dates passed away some years ago. I went off to the Army and when the war was over I attended and graduated from West Point.

Thank you for a lifetime of pleasure, Frank.

ARNOLD WINTER

Studio City

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The world has lost a treasure, and I’ve lost my dear friend.

Frank Sinatra was a generous, loyal friend to me for many decades. He loved “my kids,” too, and graciously gave of himself to support the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. He appeared on our Labor Day telethon many times, charmed the hundreds of youngsters and family members he met through MDA, and frequently donated to our cause from his own pocket.

Frank made television history on the 1976 telethon when he brought Dean Martin out on stage. That was a moment I’ll never forget--it left me almost speechless. I hadn’t seen Dean in more than 20 years.

Dean’s death in 1995 left an ache in my heart, and losing Frank doubles the pain. Frank Sinatra was larger than life, and his impact on the world--including his effect on me and “my kids”--was im- measurable.

JERRY LEWIS

Las Vegas

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For over 40 years, Sinatra provided the background music for my mind. I feel like I’ve lost a buddy.

JACK SANDWEISS

Marina del Rey

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As time passes, there is nothing more sobering than to have those precious pieces of your past die and fall away like the leaves of autumn.

Goodbye, Frank Sinatra.

JOHN O. WITT

Temecula

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Thanks, Frank, for the generous gift you gave to all of us. Your beautiful music and your wonderful style will live on forever and influence generations to come.

FRANCES TERRELL LIPPMAN

Los Angeles

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The funeral of oft-married, oft-divorced Sinatra will be held today at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Cardinal Roger Mahony will officiate. In my opinion, another disgrace committed by church leaders. Is it any wonder that there are fewer vocations and that church membership is falling off?

BETTY

BRIDGEMAN-SHANNON