Paul Berger is a staff writer at The Forward. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The (London) Times, The Daily and Guardian.co.uk.

Sep
29

How Would Your Obituary Read?

By

The man who co-wrote the song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” had the unsettling experience this week of reading his own obituary — the result of an impostor who went through life claiming to be the author of the 1960s smash hit.

[...]“Do you know what it’s like to have grandchildren calling you and say, ‘Grandpa, you’re still alive?’” he said in a telephone interview from Coral Springs. “This is not a game. I am who I am, and I’m proud of who I am. But these phones don’t stop with people calling thinking I’m dead.”

Bitsy Bikini’ Song Co-Author Is Alive (via Mediabistro)

3 Comments

1

That’s pretty messed up! I feel kind of bad for the wife. What a way to find she was married to A FRAUD! Oh well. Maybe he did it for the bragging rights or something, can’t imagine what else he got out of it, other than a few more contracting jobs perhaps!?

2

Have a listen to Timmy Mallett’s podcast on this story….

http://www.brillianttv.co.uk/timmymallett/sound/itsy-bitsy-identity.mp3

3

Thank you Linda, that’s just what I needed first thing on a Sunday morning.

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