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LaLanne's Hollywood connection shines at his memorial
A young Jack LaLanne. The godfather of physical fitness died of pneumonia on January 23,2011. He was 96 years old.
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Patricia Nazario
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Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a few words with Jack LaLanne's widow, Elaine LaLanne, at the fitness guru's memorial service on Feb. 1, 2011.
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Patricia Nazario/KPCC
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LaLanne's Hollywood connection shines at his memorial
LaLanne's Hollywood connection shines at his memorial
Family, friends, celebrities and people who never met Jack LaLanne are remembering the man who seemed to be immortal.
"Been watching Jack since the ‘60’s… watched him since the ‘60s,” said Elsa English, a 62-year-old retired Los Angeles public school worker, who was among the established Hollywood set at Forest Lawn paying tribute to LaLanne.
The Glendale resident says she darted over to the cemetery by Griffith Park after a morning dental appointment.
“I mean, I love the man. He’s been a part of my life for a very long time.”
English says her mother passed on, but her 84-year-old father still goes to the gym almost daily.
“…and that’s probably contributed by Jack… watching Jack on television,” she said.
LaLanne’s Hollywood connection shined at his memorial. Richard Simmons says he came to pay tribute to a legend.
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“…to someone who influenced me and made me a better person (voice cracks)” said Simmons. “It’s um…. It’s pretty upsetting…”
Forbes Riley appears with LaLanne on the infomercials for his power juicer that’s still on the air all over the world. She says she celebrated LaLanne’s last six birthdays with him and his family and was looking forward to his centennial.
“…and this is a very, very sad occasion,” Riley said.
LaLanne’s son Jon also fought back his emotions.
“I, looking for inside the bubble, and now I’m seeing what a great father I have… and had,” he said.
Family, friends and fans remembering the visionary who introduced the world to the benefits of working out.
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