VIN'S PEOPLE: Retired educator savors chance meeting with Sidney Poitier

Vin Mannix
·2 min read
Vin Mannix
Vin Mannix
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The recent passing of Sidney Poitier evoked heartfelt reaction near and far from people who were moved by the iconic actor’s death.

Ellen Fasciani, a retired educator living in Ocala, has an amusing story about a chance meeting with Sidney Poitier.
Ellen Fasciani, a retired educator living in Ocala, has an amusing story about a chance meeting with Sidney Poitier.

One of them is Ellen Fasciani, my classmate many moons ago at DePaul High School in Wayne, N.J. A retired educator living in Ocala, Ellen has a story that’s amusing and illuminating about a chance meeting with Poitier.

Sidney Poitier won an Oscar for best actor in 1964 for his performance in "Lillies of the Field."
Sidney Poitier won an Oscar for best actor in 1964 for his performance in "Lillies of the Field."

Then a freshman in 1967-68 at Bryant College when it was in Providence, R.I., Ellen was at the busy Port Authority Terminal in New York City, trying to get to the right bus. But the 18-year-old was struggling with her suitcase, curtain rods and a canvas bag stuffed with salami, provolone, Italian bread and a tin of Italian butter cookies.

“You know Italian mothers,” Ellen joked. “She didn’t want me to go hungry. Anyway, I’m dragging all this stuff and suddenly this man came up behind me, grabbed the suitcase and asked where I was headed. I told him, thanked him for helping me and we hurried to my connecting bus.”

Ellen, who had all of $2.50 on her and needed $1.50 for transportation to her dorm, insisted on giving a $1 tip to the reluctant stranger and they parted ways.

“I was clueless who he was.”

Not for long.

“All of a sudden people rushed up to me, asking if he was a personal friend of mine? I asked, who were they talking about? At that point a man told me it was Sidney Poitier!”

Looking around, Ellen spotted the Oscar winner going up the escalator.

“When he got to the top he turned and looked back down at me. I waved, smiled and mouthed a thank you. He smiled so big because he knew I finally realized who he was. He waved the dollar I gave him and put it in his shirt pocket.

“He was so gracious and humble. Just a remarkable man.”

• Former Manatee High Sugar ’Cane Annamaria Diamant, now a dance instructor with the Williamsburg Movement and Arts Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., is 34.

• And Rob Ayres is 57.

• Father John Nghia Hoang, the new pastor at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, 833 Magellan Drive, Sarasota, announces that Bingo will start Sunday, Jan. 23, from 1-4 p.m. at Father Flynn Hall. Games will be held every first and third Sunday. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. For details, call 941-755-1826.

• Southeast’s new boys track coach is Edward Brown Jr. and LeYenketa Blackmon is the new girls beach volleyball coach.

• Gary Holbrook is 39. Again.

• So is Judy Larabee.

• Stephanie Murphy, too.

• Anzzoni Hause, Ryan Parker and Aaron White are the Parrish Fire District’s new firefighters.

• And Terry O’Connor is 64.

• Lastly, ours is a house divided today.

Sherri is a Bucs’ fan. Yours truly, an Eagles’ fan.

Fly, Eagles, fly!

Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Retired educator savors chance meeting with Sidney Poitier