This photo taken by Nathalie Kalbach shows an 85-year old woman as she is feeding a squirrel with her own marionette version in New York City’s Washington Square Park. Amazing, isn’t it? And the story behind it is equally amazing.
It all started with when Ricky Syers, a talented street performer, met Doris Diether, a housing rights activist who had lost her voice. According to an article by Nina Golgowski for the New York Daily News, the two became instant friends:
It was while his marionettes were performing in the park on July 30 that Diether, who temporarily lost her voice a year ago due to an injury, first approached him.
“One day she comes up to me and whispers, ‘I have something for you,’” he recalled. Opening a scrap book she revealed old newspaper clippings and articles she had written on marionettes back in 1974. Articles more recently added to her collection were ones she had seen on Syers’ work, which she cut out and saved for him.
The gesture floored him. “This marionette thing has bonded us,” he said of their common interest, which inspired him to create the marionette resembling her “in honor of her.” …The charming little puppet featuring Diether’s short, white hair and rosy cheeks comes complete with a handbag, cane, and floral blouse and skirt.
Syers presented Diether’s mini-me in this short video:
Here’s a longer video about their friendship:
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This is how things should be!! Ya kno, like ‘back in the day’, such a buncha BS, why now now? If u find some1 or something interesting, go & let ’em kno! I do, 1 thing I’ve NEVER been cld is shy or quiet, ask any1 who kno’s me & they’ll 100% agree! Interaction w/others, esp w/1’s who share a common interest just makes our journey in life just that more worthwhile & interesting. A mind is just like ur body, if ya don’t use it, ya lose it!! I’ve ALWAYS chose the later & on my journey it has been quite eventful!! Like I ALWAYS say, don’t ask/say why, ask/say why NOT?!?
That was great. thank my friend Myrna for sharing that video with me. I know that she like to play the drums like Ricky in the video.
I have a friend who lives in the Village and she said that Doris has been active in preservation for decades. Let’s just all say positive comments and just accept the joy of it!
P.S., the woman in the photo, Doris, is now 93, I believe. Not 85. Unless the photo is from like 7 years ago. Doris and Ricky rock! I love the video of mini-Doris walking around and going into the supermarket and petting the cat. A classic. And poor old Stix sucking on his whiskey jug. But he can twerk!
https://www.thevillager.com/2019/01/village-doyenne-doris-diether-turns-90-friends-fete-her-at-judson-bash/
That’s my dear friend Doris Diether – the Queen of Washington Square Park & famous for being on the Community Board longer than anyone in NYC & her expertise in zoning. I organized her 80th & 90th birthday parties and both were amazing – she got 5 proclamations from top government officials. She’s pretty cool and still going strong at 91. The fabulous musicians in WS Park composed songs about her and performed for the party – it was such a beautiful community feeling and effort by many to make it a great party for a GREAT! lady.
wonderful!
you know how to value each other.
People just touching other people’s lives in a positive way, I live it. More people should live like this without judgement and negativity. It would certainly be a welcome change. As for the negative comments trolls will be trolls☹️. Try being nice, you might actually like it! Loved the store a beautiful example of kindness!
I found this to be a delightful story. I found myself smiling, I was hypnotized for some reason. The talent of the marionette maker who was self taught is amazing to me.
‘Old Lady’ The choice of words is great journalism. Don’t you guys get it. ‘old Lady’ reflects that woman’s fantastic attitude perfectly. She loves being an ‘old lady’. Great article. I’m a very young 55 by the way :-)
Old? Retake Journalisim 101.