Freddie left this world on January 29, 1977. That means that on the 29th of this month he will be gone 25 years. I can remember the day he died so well. I prayed and prayed that he would live but it just wasn't meant to be. I will always remember how I enjoyed watching CATM every Friday night - I just had to be home so I wouldn't miss it - no VCRs back then! I'm so glad that everyone here is keeping his talent and memory alive. :(

copy hes really not gone hes forever in our hearts and memories and our mines he was a truly gifted man and a great man its really sad how he left this world but i believe hes in a better place where there is no pain and is at peace. i will always remember when i found out he passed away. i was at home i lived in michigan at the time i was 9 years old at the time and i heard it on the news freddie prinze co star of chico and the man died today . ...man it was like learning a family member had died ..i remeber watch him every friday to never missed one ..only when after he passed away i could not watch anymore it was not the same. but now i watch it all. freddie was a lot like my father. there a message i think some of you read it it was called what do you think freddie would by doing if he was alive today like i said my dad and freddie where a like in the heart they were like twins and as i said there both up in heaven as buddys .. so take confort that hes in heaven looking down at his son iam sure my dad is doing the same watch evey move .. :wave:

:crying: :crying: :crying: This thread has touched me so much. As you all know, I remember that faithful day when I got a phone call from a friend of mine telling me what had happened. I was working at the time in Wall Street. I was such a fan of this man. I read everything about him and followed his career. I had stars in my eyes. I loved him. I and countless of others waited and waited for what was to be. I was 22 years old at the time.... Just like him. Here it is 25 years later........... I've never forgotten the man who made me laugh! The man who was so beautiful. The man who I had a BIG SIZE crush on.............. I waited, and waited and waited and then in a split second he was gone......... Gone from our lives.......... Sure I was angry, just like thousands of other people........... I was SO MAD!!! :angryfire Now 25 years later... I've never, ever forgotten this man. I will always love him till the day I pass. He gave my heart so much JOY back then and just reminiscing about his crazy self all these years, he still makes me smile. I will always be his fan......... I will never turn my back on him. NEVER............... :( :crying:

I LOVE YOU MR. PRINZE............ WHEREVER YOU ARE........................

Oh my reading all ya'lls posts has made me leak & I had to get a hanky... :crying:

After getting into CATM & Freddie last yr it made me remember when he died. I was a teenager in high school & it was a school day & cold. I wasn't yet a fan of Freddies yet even tho I watched CATM all the time. I was seriously in love at the time with John Travolta, all 4 of the Monkees & Shaun Cassidy. I had forgotten what month he died until I got into Freddie & CATM last yr. I remember a friend of mine at school said Freddie had died. I think I was like Huh? He died? He couldn't have he's on CHICO AND THE MAN. But she said he had & had committed suicide. I thought it was sad & a real shame & said so. I wondered how a kid only a few yrs older than me could've killed himself when he seemed so happy. He had seemed like such a happy boy. My friend told me she had broke down & cried when he died. I think her older sister had cried too maybe. I realize oh man he made some other kids cry by dying. I saw stuff about his death in the news & newspapers. I later read that he had killed himself because his wife had divorced him & it had broken his heart.

I still watched CATM cuz I had always liked the show & thought it was good. It wasn't the same after Freddie was gone tho. I remember them making a big deal in the magazines about Gabriel Melgar being Raul & when CAN YOU HEAR THE LAUGHTER was relased them writing about it in magazines. The summer after he died re-runs of CATM came on at either noon or 12:30 pm on NBC. I always slept late till noon everyday (Still do LOL!) & I would get up & watch Freddie & that was the first thing I saw on tv every weekday then. I'm in my 40's now...

I had forgotten about the show & him until I found out TVLAND was gonna show it & I thought cool I'd love to see it again. I watched quite a bit of the marthon incling non-Freddie episodes. Started watching it every nite. By Feb or March I was into CATM & Freddie. Found these boards & soon I was hooked. Thanks Chico! :)

This will be the first anniversary of his death since I became a fan of his so this one this yr is gonna be really hard for me. :crying: I warned my hubby I may be crying alot that day. :( I never got to know him. I'll never know him. :( I want so bad to bring him back from heaven & talk to him & tell him how much we all love him & make him be okay & live. I'm so sorry about what happened to you Freddie. We love you & miss you... :( :crying: I better qut writing this as my hankerchief is starting to get little wet spots on it... :crying: Freddie I am so sorry I discovered you so late in life & didn't get into you when I watched you in the 70's. Please forgive me & know that I care about you now... You are a real Prinze & a true superstar...

Originally posted by Cheryl Harrell
I was a teenager in high school & it was a school day & cold. I wasn't yet a fan of Freddies yet even tho I watched CATM all the time. I was seriously in love at the time with John Travolta, all 4 of the Monkees & Shaun Cassidy. Cheryl - I thought of you this afternoon. Why you ask? Because I saw John Travolta in the movie Stayin Alive and he was LOOKING GOOD!!!! (Sorry Freddie) :D .... Anyway, I love this movie. John's body is so beautifully sculpted :grineyes: and I love the dancing in the movie. I love the storyline too. It's one of my favorite movies. Too bad this picture bombed in the movie theater. John looked absolutely beautiful........ Wooooooooooooo!!! (Again, - - Sorry Freddie...... - I still love you).:loveya: :kiss:

:crying:
I want to thank Catcopy for starting this thread and all of you who posted on this topic. I have been thinking about this anniversary so much and it has me in tears. I will never forget the day this tragedy took place and how it impacted my life. I have always remembered him with love and been grief-stricken over his leaving this world. It was a horrible loss to his family, friends, fans and the entertainment industry. I have always wondered how many other great accomplishments would have been his, if only...

I am very sorry that he did not find more of the much-deserved happiness he deserved while he was here.

I agree that he is not really gone. He does live in our hearts and minds. As long as we remember him, discuss him, and hold the love we have for him, he will never really be gone.

My heart is broken and I weep over the loss of such an outstanding individual. The brightness that surrounded him, his magic -- his departure left an incredible void. He is greatly missed.

I LOVE YOU FREDDIE!!!

(And I ALWAYS will.) :crying:

I read and re-read the posts within this thread and absorbed the love that came through each one...I'm not sure....maybe I was hoping that incredible love would overcome the emotion that surfaces with the reality of 25 years without Freddie amongst us all.
Words and thoughts were too consuming so I put it the best way I know how to do. I sat in front of the computer and waited...I hope you all like what came through. My heart spoke what my mind could not....


THE RIVER

There is a golden river
that flows from the earth towards the sky.
It was created ...so very long ago
within an unfathomable goodbye.

Flickering hues of gold
mixed with the fires of non acceptance.
Dancing prism-like fingers reaching
to reclaim what cannot be grasped.

The river's flow turbulent, angry...
questioning the wisdom of the universe.
Till a weary spirit, at times, slows it down to a trickle
to simply be still within.. with a silent curse.

Searching, twisting, heavenward
toward fate's door like a snake.
To beg all that is for a return
of what there was no reason to take.

The river of gold that carries
the burden throughout these twenty-five years,
Searches the infinity of heaven
consisting of all my tears.

Till the time, within time, when your presence...
will be all-encompassing once more;
At my golden river of tears end
carried through the years to eternity's door.

C.M. AKA Wheeeone 1/08/02
In Remembrance
For
1/29/2002

OMG wheeeone, how beautiful! And how true! I think all of us have contributed our tears to that river over all these years. I know I have, just this morning. You see, it is my birthday today, and when my husband said "Happy Birthday" and I kinda blew him off, he said, "It's better than not having a birthday". I had all I could do not to burst into tears in front of him, thinking how Freddie will never see another birthday here with us! So now because of that and because of your lovely tribute, I sit here alone having trouble seeing the screen for the tears! But it's alright, because I know that Freddie is happy where he is and I feel that he wishes each one of us some of that happiness on our birthdays.

OMG Wheeeone!!! I am overcome with emotions!!! You have truly spoken from your heart and given us a glimpse into what lies beyond what we are able to see with our natural eyes. Like Mariposa, I can barely see the screen to type this, but had to let you know how very special this poem is and how your words and feelings have blessed me. I also feel assured in my spirit that Freddie has received your beautiful sentiments and is profoundly touched by the depth of your feelings and the eloquence with which you expressed them.

I hope all of our friends check in today and read your poem. Thank-you for sharing this with us. I am so proud to know you and have the knowledge that others understand our feelings for someone so beloved.

May God bless you today, tomorrow, and always.

:crying:

Yeah, John Travolta was the reason why I didn't get into Freddie back in the 70's. I regret that now. I could've had all sorts of neat magazines on him... :(

That poem is so sweet & touching. Reading what ya'll wrote on her had me reaching for a hanky. It's so sad what happened to Freddie. I am so sorry Freddie for what happened to you. We all care about you. :crying:

:crying: Folks, I have to be honest with you, my Freddie family. With this 25th Anniversary approaching, I feel depression trying to take hold of me. May I please request that we have another candle lighting for Freddie on or about the 29th? We need to do something as a family. I experience this every year around the date he made his transition and I am just grateful to have my friends here that understand and are going through it as well.

I am flexible as far as the time of day and I would like as many of us to be able to participate as possible. I am anxiously awaiting your feedback. Thank-you.

FREDDIE FOREVER!!
:crying:

You know I will do it, If I can I`ll have a Mass said for him as well.

Wheeone - That was beautiful. I wish I could do that for him.

Today I was listening to some songs on the radio and for some reason I thought of Freddie. It's like I was searching for a song to remember him with. I didn't hear one though. It was a strange feeling though. One thing I have to say is I am so lucky I found you all........ A group of Freddie followers to remember him with........ You all understand what I feel and I understand what you feel and with our words we have moved mountains. Thank you to all the people I have met who follow Freddie. I am so lucky to have found you all........ Count me in for the candle lighting. :wave:

I don't know what is more depressing for me....Remembering Freddie's demise, or realizing it has been 25 years....... I feel soooo old! :(
I am trying not to think about this right now... but I know I will be needing a lot of support and therapy from my favorite support group...all of you!
I will be lighting candles on this day....I have a Toasted Hazelnut one that mariposa gave me on my last visit to her. It will be burning on and off all day and I hope to be here with you all too. I know I will be watching the show and reading some of the fan fiction as well. I will need all of this to get me through.....
It is all sooooo sad :crying: I loved the poem, weeeone! It is a fitting tribute! I will be crying rivers of tears! I know how all of your feel. Let's make a pact to be here for each other! I love you all, you are Freddie for me...we keep him alive with our sharing!

Aw, I got sooo sad reading all this & then the pic of Freddie on this page shows up & I just lost it... I'm on hanky #2 now... I read one of the new articles that Luckymama posted on the ED BROWNS GARAGE & it had me leaking on my keyboards & reaching for a hanky reading the suicide stuff. :crying:

Stuff reminds me of Freddie like when we went to the drs. Yesterday by now when we were in the elevator, a Hispanic guy asked us where to go to pay your bills & we told him we didn't know. I told my hubby later that I could picture Freddie saying that. Course I started fantsizing about being in a elevator with Freddie & told my hubby about it. We ate at a Mexican restuarant & I thought of Freddie & share with Mike my fantasies of being friends with him & him eating out Mexican with us & feeding me Tacos. & Freddie orders for us in Spanish. :) Oh yeah he wears his blue velvet suit! :) We did get to talking about Freddie dying & I almost cried in the restuarant. :( So sad....

Thank you to all of our Freddie family who posted the feelings that came when reading the poem for "Our" Freddie. Throughout this past year I have finally found the sources of the other tears that contributed to that golden river. I am honored to have been touched by each one of your spirit's, memories, feelings and friendship that has arisen out of our collective love and loss of our sweet Freddie.
We will carry him within our hearts through eternity....

I took the pic from the new article Luckymama posted on ED BROWNS GARAGE & turned it into 2 pics of how Freddie could've possibly looked today. This probably isn't that accurate & sorry I couldn't get his hair to go gray enough but we tried anyway. I changed his shirt to be all one color cuz you don't see multicolor patchwork type shirts for men these days.

Picture number 1 depicts him looking almost like he did back then except he no longer has the mutton chop sideburns & his hair is a tiny bit shorter. He looks still a bit 70's tho because conceivably being the hip guy that he was he could've possibly still had the 70's look.

Here's pic #1 (The sort of still in the 70's look):

I like this one the best cuz I don't like super short hair on guys... :)

Here the mutton chop sideburns are still gone and his hair is quite a bit shorter. I didn't make it too too short like Jrs cuz I figured he probably wouldn't have it too too short like Jr's cuz Freddie was a really hip guy & would've probably not wanted to look too too different from what he was but just enough to fit in with however folks were currently looking in the decade. Maybe a Mando 2001 hairdo?


If only these were for real & he were still alive today... :crying:


Here's Pic #2:

Here's one I did of Mando today with Chico today simulating how they could've both looked today in a picture together. Mando is still here with us & really does look like that. We can only wonder what Chico would've looked like today...

Dear fReddie friends,
All the posts and tributes on this thread are beautiful.
I too am sad over the coming date,not on;y for the tragic loss of a talented young man but for a loss i suffered on that day nine years ago.
Though it is too personal to post here trust that i two will be lighting candles that day as well.
God bless.:(

Joy, our prayers will be with you as we light candles on that day. Please remember how much you are loved and appreciated.

Cheryl - That is exactly how he would look today. I can bet my bottom dollar. Freddie at 47 years old. You did a great job!!!! He is still LOOKING GOOD..........

Joy - I'll pray for you on that day too.

From every indication I can gather, the following is the last known photograph of our Prinze. I put it through photoshop to give it a heavenly quality. I hope it is a fitting tribute to the man we all love and miss! :crying:

That's the pic from the PARADE magazine. Somehow in the pic in the magazine he didn't look so happy but you managed to make him look happy. :) You did a great job. I looked at him & had to reach for a hanky. Bless his heart...

Someone on here mentioned one of the pics I did looked like how he would look today. I was curious to know which one it was. On the one of him with the really shorter hair, I think I got his hair too short. Yuck! Oh well LOL!

I did another one of him of how he could've looked today. I've done some others in the past of how he'd look today & I guess I'll wait & put those on my site whenever I get it done LOL!

In this one I changed his long sleeve dress shirt from a print to a white shirt cuz the print probably looked too 70's & gave it a different background & shortened his hair some to fit the times. I probably didn't do so good but here it is.


Another view of how he could've looked if he were alive today:

Tho you have to love his smile..... in any picture.... in the one from Parade, he looked much older than 22. (The dark circles under his eyes....poor baby.) It was so obvious something was wrong..... I just dont get why someone didnt do something.

Okay Cheryl - I had to copy it so you could see what I was talking about. I believe he would look like this today. At 47 years old. Not sure of the hair though but, you've got the face perfect!

Originally posted by tylersmistress2002
Tho you have to love his smile..... in any picture.... in the one from Parade, he looked much older than 22. (The dark circles under his eyes....poor baby.) It was so obvious something was wrong..... I just dont get why someone didnt do something.

I agree with you 100% on all the excellent points made. And I ask the same question, "Why didn't someone do something to help him?" Pobrecito Freddie.

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful work on the pictures here. There a wonderful tribute to Freddie!

I decided how I'll spend Jan 29. Usually on Tuesdays we go get groceries & go to town & eat out. I decided to move it to Wed the week of the 29th cuz I wanna be home that day so I can watch some CATM episodes & so if folks decide to have a group chat I can get into that. I may watch the CAN YOU HEAR THE LAUGHTER movie. The only thing is the one time I watched it it had me bawling my eyes out & going thru hankys...

I found this picture on the internet of a newpaper with a sotry on Freddies funeral on it. I wonder if that's Tony Orlando in the picture. It's a sad picture... :(

I decided how I'll spend Jan 29. Usually on Tuesdays we go get groceries & go to town & eat out. I decided to move it to Wed the week of the 29th cuz I wanna be home that day so I can watch some CATM episodes & so if folks decide to have a group chat I can get into that. I may watch the CAN YOU HEAR THE LAUGHTER movie. The only thing is the one time I watched it it had me bawling my eyes out & going thru hankys...

I found this picture on the internet of a newpaper that had a story on Freddies funeral on it. I would've loved to have seen the story with it but don't have the $14.99 to buy it with. I wonder if that's Tony Orlando in the picture. It's a sad picture... :( I hope the picture doesn't upset or scare anyone. It made me so sad seeing it. :crying:

Oh Cheryl........... It is Tony Orlando. :crying: :crying:

One thing I need to know is what time will the candles burn for Freddie. I'm in NY so how about 8:00 PM my time? :confused:

I plan on having two candles lit all day.
Joy:(

We don't have any matches so I guess I'll have to dig out a Christmas candle to light a candle. I thought that looked like Tony Orlando. It is such a sad picture... :( I plan to watch some CATM that day. I warned my hubby Mike that he is in for watching alot of CATM that nite...

January 29th is both a sad day for me and a very happy day.Sad because of the death of Freddie Prinze, happy because I had a beautiful daughter 17 years ago.I will never forget Freddie as long as I live. :(

My Candle will be lit all day and I will be watching the few episodes I have on tape. We love you Freddie.... we miss you. :crying:

My Freddie Memories
I was in college, starting the second semester of my freshman year, when I heard the news of Freddie’s accident. I had been a faithful CATM watcher in high school. I had a major crush on Freddie from the first. I also grew up in a town with a large Puerto Rican community on Long Island, NY and there were many good looking guys in this community. So you could say I had a thing for good looking Puerto Rican guys. (I still do, even though hubby is as anglo as they come) I had not been able to see the third season, since being a poor college student, I did not own or have access to a TV. I missed watching Freddie get thin and frail looking. I was in shock when I heard the news on the radio. I remember spending most of the 33 hours staying in my dorm room, praying very hard that he would be spared. I was sure this is how everyone close to him was praying. I cried when I heard he didn’t make it. But, like Paul Rodriguez, I was angry too. My first reaction was anger. Why would anyone who had it all, and a bright future be so stupid to take his own life. When the details of his death were revealed in reports in the days and weeks following his death, the facts of his drug use and depression, I began to understand what was behind the death. Then all I could do was be sad. I cried a lot in the next few weeks. I guess I really never got over the grief until I met the man I would eventually marry a month after Freddie’s death.
I miss you so much, Freddie, it hurts deep!

What time do the candles burn?

Also is anyone getting into any chats tonite?

My candles are burning and will continue until they burn out. I wish I could go to a chat room tonite but I dont have a puter at home.

Anna and I are lighting candles and saying prayers tonight at 8:00 p.m.. I just hope that my tears do not extinguish the candle. :(

We remember Freddie...always and forever.

I can remember the day that he died also, I was in Ohio at that time, and I remember a newscaster interrupting television programming stating that Fredy Prinze was in a hotel room with a gun up to his head.... We all know the outcome to this tragedy, all I can remember thinking was why would someone who had so much to live for take his own life. If he had lived, he definately would have gone on to have great success.

I wasn't a Freddie fan at the time CATM was on (TVLAND was what got me into him a yr ago) but used to watch CATM all the time. I was in high schoo lat the time & I remember my friend coming to school & saying he had shot himself & died & she had cried when she found out. I think I was like Huh he can't be dead he's on CHICO AND THE MAN. She said no it's true & I later heard it in the news & read it in some papers. I thought it was sad & a real shame & wondered why such a happy boy would commit suicide & make my friend cry. I later read his wife had divorced him & it broke his heart so bad he couldn't go on & ended it all. :( I now regret I wasn't into him back then. Where was I? (Blames John Travolta...)

Cheryl, his death is like one of William Shakespear's great tragic plays. But it shows how powerful love really is, particularly, if he would rather die than to spend the rest of his life without his wife. What a sad sad story.

Awww, it's so sad. It sounds like Romeo & Juliette... :crying:

It was a sad day for me. I watched some CATM videos & cried my eyes out watching them. I really had the hankys going bigtime. My hubby Mike is a diabetic (& so am I) & diabetics can have their sugars drop & go into a low sugar attack. While watching CATM Mike went into a low sugar attack. When a diabetic goes into a low sugar attack you have to get them something sweet like orange juice or sweets or candy. So I told him to get some orange juice. He had enough presence of mind to do that. When a diabetic goes into a low sugar attack they can lose their memory for a short time & not remember what happened during the low sugar attack & not remember who you are or who they are. Mike said he remembered watching CATM in the 70's & loved it back then. He asked me why I was crying & I told him it was cuz Freddie had died. The low sugar attack cause it where he didn't remember that Freddie had died & said no he's not dead he's still alive & on CHICO AND THE MAN. I had to tell him that Freddie had died & why. Between Mikes low sugar attack & Freddie's death I think I bawled my eyes out during 2 CATM episodes. I watched the first 3 CATM episodes. In the 3rd one where Chico tries to get Ed to make up with his ex friend Guerra. In that one Freddie cries which is soooo sad. When Guerra goes up to Ed's room to go see him, Chico cries & I can tell it wasn't in the script but was Freddies real emotions. I really had the hankies going... :crying:

After that it was time for Dubya to come on & Mike wanted to see that so we turned it on. I fell asleep during his speech & totally missed SANFORD & SON. Darn. :(

Well, I lit my candle at 8:00 PM. When I lit it, I was feeling kind of sad and I started humming the Chico and the man theme. :crying: I prayed and thought of Freddie (Where could he be? Does he know we think about him?) My thoughts wandered to his mother Maria (How is she? - Is she fine?) I also felt sadness for her because her baby has been gone 25 years. Such a long time........ I also thought of Fred Jr. (Does he remember? - I'm sure he does. Did he go put flowers on his crypt?). I also thought about "K" and what she must be feeling. I know if I were near California, I would've placed some flowers on his crypt. I also thought about all that's happened since he's been gone and what he's missed out on. Like life and inventions and stuff. (Sniff). :( :(

I also forgot to mention that at one point I turned around to look at the candle and the flame of the candle rose very, very high. It felt a little weird. :(

As I rememberd Freddie on the anniversary of his death. I reread his mothers book as I flew to Tampa Florida. I felt so many emotions some I couldn't control. I was saddened that he was not here with us. I thought about his Mother as welll as his Son. Yet I felt happy that there are places such as this site as well as others. Where there are people who truely love him and still admire him. Yes he has been gone for 25 years now. I realize that. Still that can't stop me from remembering such a sweet, gifted,and talented comedian and actor he is.

Thank you to all who truely love him and are not ashamed to remember him !

It was my daughters 17th birthday. I had her when I was 16 and I just cant believe how the time has flown. I thought a lot of Freddie also yesterday. I think of him often. I really hope hes at peace and with God . My heart goes out to Jr , Jan 29th must be extremely hard on him. Its so very sad. :( and cheryl, how sad for you, God bless you and your husband.Sounds like you had a really sad day.

25 yrs have passed. I wonder if it is an emotional time for Jr. I know he admires what he knows of his dad, but in reality, he did not know his father and Lord knows what kind of things Kathy told Jr. about Freddie. I hope she would not tarnish his memory in the eyes of his son.

I know it was a terribly sad day for me. I fought the tears all day at work. My candle is still lit. I watched my CATM videos and prayed for Freddie before falling asleep on a tear stained pillow.

Some people may feel it somewhat odd to be so emotional in this situation but I know you all understand and share the feelings I experience. I sometimes get sad when I come here, but mostly I am greatful to have a place to come to express my emotions. Thank you for being here my friends.... God Bless You All.

Just wanted to express my support and gratitude to everyone who posted here and lit candles and had other observances of this milestone.

Anna and I lit candles together over the phone at 8:00 p.m.. We discussed this great man and our feelings over this tragic loss; how we felt when we first heard the news, and how with each passing year, the love, dedication, and pain remain.

Tylersmistress, please know that we are all with you in this and truly understand your feelings and share them. I sometimes feel as you mentioned, but am ever so grateful for this website and all the wonderful folks here who have let me know through their posts that I am not alone or "off my rocker". :)
We just hold an enduring love for someone who touched our lives in a profound way. Some of us never met him in person, but that does not negate our feelings at all. Love is a real and powerful force. Love transcends space, time and is miraculous.

Once again my heartfelt thank-you to all of you because in years past, I was always depressed at this time of year and had no one to talk about it with. Just knowing that all of you are there and recognize the tremendous loss of this extraordinary person, means so much to me and makes all the difference in my emotional well-being. You will never know how much I appreciate all of you for the sharing and caring that always takes place here.

FREDDIE FOREVER!!