Ciao, Sophia.

The passing of one of TV's most phenomenal grandmothers saddened the Entertainment community yesterday. Estelle Getty passed away yesterday morning 5:30 am at her home in Hollywood. I'd been long hearing about the horrible disease that was ravaging Estelle Getty, beloved actress who created Sophia Petrillo of TV's The Golden Girls. I was amazed that she had hung in there for as long as she'd been sick; ten years plus. I'm not surprised considering the spunk with which she tackled her roles on big/small screens. She was always feisty and broke the mold when it came to grandmother roles in the TV genre. Her spirit was infectious and left an indelible mark on her audiences.

The Golden Girls ran from 1985-1992. The show was an instant hit showcasing women late in life and their struggles. The show was inspirational and fodder for many well-repeated lines from episodes. "Is that all you Italians know how to do, scream and hit?, " asked Blanche of Sophia. To which she responds, "No. We also know how to make love and sing opera." I still smile at that one. Granted the shows appeal had a large fan base with women and gay men but that's about 2/3 the populace when you really think about it.

I most appreciate that she came to this role after struggling in the entertainment Industry for forty years. On her third audition she told the make up person this was her role of a lifetime, that they needed to make her look eighty or they would be flushing away a forty year career. She won the role and then our hearts. Her tenacity needs to be celebrated along with her humor. She really was a Golden Girl. Ciao, Estelle.

(Getty Images)