On this one-year anniversary (1/28/08) of Helen's passing, I wanted to post this special "tidbit" from The Playbill Broadway Yearbook 2006-2007. In the Phantom of the Opera cast and crew "Scrapbook" section, on the bottom of page 315, under the heading "Favorite Snack Food" is written the following:
"One of our most delicious treats is homemade shortbread, delivered in person by Helen and Charlie, two faithful members of the Phantom family and leaders of the James Romick Fan Club."
I think it's great that the cast & crew paid tribute to Helen and Charlie in this small way.
And the shortbread "tradition" continues with Charlie. :-)
We love you and miss you, Helen!
Rachel
Our dear friend Helen Davidson was the Founder and President of the James Romick Fan Club. She passed away suddenly in January 2007. I first met Helen on an Internet message board, and then I met her in person (along with fellow Fan Club members Cheryl Andersen and Marie Pringle) in December 1998. I'll never forget that first wonderful meeting...we all hit it off right from the start, through our shared love of the theater and The Phantom of the Opera (and a certain Tony-award-winning original Phantom in particular). It was as if we had known each other for years; we became instant friends, and my friendship with Helen lasted (about) eight years. Thanks to her, they were some of the most memorable and wonderful eight years of my life. If not for her writing that first "fan" letter to Jim Romick, our Fan Club would probably not exist today, and I would've never had the honor and privilege of knowing a great guy like Jim. It was a privilege for me to be Helen's friend as well...at times she felt like a second mother to me, and even though she's gone from this life, she'll always be my friend. Her husband Charlie has become a good friend as well. Helen will always be in my heart, and I want to honor her memory as best I can. I hope I'll get to "see" her again someday.
You were a terrific friend, Helen, and I miss you!
With love,
Rachel (Fan Club "organizer")
