As kids growing up, it wasn't unusual for him to take us to rehearsals and sometimes to opening night parties on Broadway. These were the people he worked with.

He was very modest, but once he got talking, he liked reminiscing about all the people he worked with over the years.

It was my parents understanding all along that they would retire back to Milwaukee.

A while later, a maitre d' came up to him.

My dad was 16, and Liberace was 17. They were both finalists. My dad was a humble guy, but he was always sort of proud that he placed ahead of Liberace in the contest.

We have a 1,300-square-foot house and their presence is always known. We needed to find harmony, with a new baby and us and them.