RIP, Bob Barker - and Barker's Buddy

Several friends texted today when they came across the news that Bob Barker passed away this morning at his home in the Hollywood Hills. They knew I'd be thinking of my dad with the news. 

Bob and Dad worked together on The Price is Right for 30 years. Their birthdays are exactly 12 years and one week apart. Long after they had both retired, Bob Barker from hosting the longest running game show in television history and Dad from running camera 3 on the show, they'd call each other in that week in December. 

Jill, Bob Barker, and Dad on set in 1999.

They connected in other parts of the year, too, by phone or for lunch, but for me, the birthday call was the most charming. I always dug it as a kid when Dad would announce he was going to be in front of the camera on the Dec. 5 show. Not every year, but often, Bob would wish my dad happy birthday on air, and one of the other cameras would swing to the right to capture Dad removing his headset and stepping over to the distinguished host for a handshake and then a wave to the studio audience. 

It was universally accepted, admired even, by the rest of the crew that Dad was Barker's favorite. Fittingly, the two friends will now be buried at the same cemetery, on the sloping hills that overlook several of Hollywood's biggest studio complexes. 

I have no doubt they will both rest in peace. That is when they are not hanging out in the great beyond talking airplanes, basketball, and TPIR memories.