Remembering Patrice O’Neal…

Monday, December 5 the New York comic community mourned and celebrated the (too) short life of the uncompromising and witty, former football star. In a packed church his friends and colleagues shared some of their most memorable experiences. Many of the crew I remember sitting at the back table at the Comedy Cellar. Jim Norton, Robert Kelly, Rich Vos, Kevin Hart and Colin Quinn all touched the audience with personal memories. There were even a few applause breaks as he light heartedness felt a little like a Comedy Central Roast. Afterwards, friends shared more O’Neal stories.

Back in 2002 when I was raising money to open the Laugh Lounge, I used to drop in the big guy. He liked telling me Puerto Rican jokes to catch my ire. He enjoyed dishing it out and respected you if you could give it back.

The last time Patrice hosted Burt Smooth’s show he pulled me aside and told me, “We used to sit around that table at the Cellar and laugh at you when you told us that you’d open your own club,” he’d grin. Then, after a comedic pause, he added, “I’m proud of you.”

Gina Savage, formerly of the old Boston Comedy club also had a good one. She said that she had bumped into Patrice in Vegas a few years ago at one of the clubs. He told her, “You used to be a ten but you are still an eight!” I disagree, she is still a ten and has a great sense of humor to boot. That is the type of brutal honesty we all came to love!

Delilah