'She was so joyful': Betty White honored on what would have been her 100th birthday
Stephanie Bernaba remembers the first time she saw Betty White on TV. She was a young kid living with her grandparents in Rhode Island, where they spent many evenings watching "The Golden Girls," co-starring White as the endearingly daffy Rose Nylund.
"We would lay on my grandmother's bed and eat Planter's snacks out of a tin," Bernaba, 43, who owns a small media firm, said with a laugh. "We thought the show was really funny, but more than anything, I enjoyed watching her. She was so joyful."
White's performance remained "a source of good memories" for Bernaba for decades. Bernaba and her grandma made a point of watching reruns of "The Golden Girls" for many years, whenever they were together and needed some small-screen solace.
Bernaba is one of many Betty White fans across the U.S. who have reflected on the Emmy-winning television star's life since she died Dec. 31, at 99. Monday marked what would have been the actor's 100th birthday, and some of those admirers commemorated the occasion, attending celebrations of her career or participating in virtual memorials.
At roughly 900 movie theaters across the country, the independent distributor Fathom Events screened “Betty White: A Celebration,” a 100-minute documentary filmed before her death. (The original subtitle was “100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration.”)
“During the many years we worked with her, we developed a great love and admiration for Betty as a person, and as an accomplished entertainer,” producers Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein said in a joint statement.
“We are thankful for the many decades of delight she brought to everyone,” the producers added.
The film chronicles White’s prolific output and personal life, including her tireless advocacy for animals. It also features appearances by entertainment industry friends such as Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and Carol Burnett.
Leida Rosenberg, 72, and her husband, Barry Spielvogel, 74, braved the cold and Covid risk to catch an evening showing of the film at the AMC Kips Bay 15 in New York City on Monday — their first movie theater outing since the start of the pandemic.
"We loved her. We wouldn't miss it," said Rosenberg, a retired schoolteacher.
"We've also been stuck out home for two years," Spielvogel added.
"She showed us you can still be active even in your old age," Rosenberg said. "You don't have to sit home. You can go out and volunteer and do something that you love."
"As long as there's no Covid," Spielvogel added.
