A sad day for "Day" fans : Doris Day, a frequent Trenton, Ohio, visitor in her youth, has died
With a fresh-faced, natural beauty she was the perfect subject for the camera.
Indeed, the camera loved movie/TV actress and singer Doris Day, the Cincinnati native with ties to Trenton, Ohio. Doris died today, Monday, May 13, at her California home. She celebrated her 97th birthday on April 3.
Known worldwide as one of America’s leading entertainers, Doris (real name : Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff) was also dedicated to animal welfare. She established the Doris Day Animal Foundation. *
Doris’s love of animals was apparent even on the movie set. She refused to continue working on the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much” “unless the emaciated animals on or near the set received proper care...” The production company responded promptly and Doris then “supervised the care and feeding” of the animals. She completed her screen work. (**)
According to one biography (***), Doris’s passion for animal welfare took root after “the auto accident that had wreaked havoc with her dancing career.” Her beloved dog Tiny had “stayed by her side during her convalescence…”
One day while on crutches, Doris took “Tiny” for a walk without a leash. Tiny “ran into the street and was killed by a car...In Day’s own words, she was racked with ‘loneliness’ and ‘guilt’…
“...It was the combination of the closeness with Tiny and the guilt she felt over not using a leash that seems to have marked the beginning of Day’s interest in animal welfare…,” (***) the book continued.
Some locals may be unaware that Doris Day was quite familiar with Trenton.
According to “Welcome to Trenton: Celebrating 200 Years! 1816-2016, (****) in summer months Doris “got off at the Trenton stop (of the Interurban Line) to spend her days with her aunt and uncle who lived at the bottom of Union Street.”
The book recalled that “became good friends with the four Ottinger sisters who lived in the neighborhood, Betty Ottinger Barnes, Clara Ottinger Boxwell, Mabel Ottinger Younger and most especially with Ruth Ottinger Vennefron. She also became close friends with Trenton historian, Edward Keefe. The friendships with Ruth and Mr. Keefe lasted until their deaths…”
Some Trenton residents remembered “seeing Doris sitting on the brick wall in front of Phillip’s Drugstore (later the Tobacco Connection), eating an ice cream…,” the book continued.
“...When in Trenton, residents treated Doris not like a big star, but as one of their own…Upon the deaths of her uncle and aunt, her visits to Trenton ceased, but not our connection to her…”
Today fans in Trenton, Ohio, and around the world will fondly remember the lovely, talented and kind-hearted Doris Day.