June
4 Mel Ferrer Recalled Here

I spoke with my longtime friend Mel Ferrer in April and reported as part of my archival column on April 25. It was in the "2008 Update" portion of a June 19, 1958, interview with Audrey Hepburn on the "Nun's Story" set in Rome.

This April I reached Mel in a convalescent facility near his 18-acre avocado and lemon Carpenteria ranch. His longtime loving wife Lisa had put him on the phone with me. He was nearing the end of a six-month stay there following Jan.29 intestinal surgery and following complications of pneumonia. But he now sounded cheery, telling me he would soon be home and looked forward to my visiting him up there. His (working) ranch also boasts an adjoining one-acre ranch of son Mark--who had inspired Mel to buy his own acreage which overlooks the sea. Mel "worked the ranch -- it was his solace when he no longer worked as an actor," said Mark After the long and complicated illness, Mel was now showing signs of "getting well, said Mark "and we believed he would soon be going home. Mel would have loved to see you again," he said, "He was so happy to talk to you on the phone-- but he suddenly failed on Sunday."

Mel loved to walk about this working ranch with his children and grandchildren (11). This weekend, his ashes will be buried in his ranch. Mark said no service is planned.