Frank Sinatra died last Thursday.
The morning after his death, the mood of family, friends and fans was a picture in black. From Mia Farrow, the younger-than-his-kids starlet he wed and divorced in the 1960s: "The first love of my life, and he remained a true friend, always there when I needed him. I will miss him more than words can say." From Tony Bennett, the singer with staying power almost as enduring as that of Sinatra: "The master is gone, but his voice will live forever." From former President Reagan and Nancy Reagan, the couple he befriended from Hollywood to the White House: "Today, the sound of heaven's chorus is a little brighter and more beautiful as our dear friend...joins its ranks."
Eydie Gormé, of Steve & Eydie lounge-stylist fame, expressed her heartbreak most simply: "It's the saddest day of my life."
Sinatra, in frail health in recent years, succumbed to a heart attack at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 82.
New York's Empire State Building was bathed in blue lights Friday night--in honor of Ol' Blue Eyes. The Las Vegas strip dimmed its neon in his memory.
A fan pilgrimage to the entertainer's home in Beverly Hills on Friday morning prompted police to seal off the immediate area to cars.
Children Tina and Frank Jr. were seen leaving the estate. As were Gormé and husband Steve Lawrence.
There was only a brief statement from the Sinatra family. "Our father and grandfather was a man of dreams, a man of passion, strength, loyalty and gentleness. His lessons and love were the only constant in an ever-changing world. He is, and always will be, the center of our universe."
The family plans a private funeral service Wednesday.
Others were quick to share their grief. A sampling:
"I will miss him very much. He was, in my opinion, one of the greateast performers of all time...I love you Frank." --Pop oddity Michael Jackson, who hooked up with the Voice during the making of 1984's L.A. Is My Lady.
"There will never be another him. You know, he's an idol. He was the original." --Director Martin Scorsese, said to be at work on a film biopic of Rat Pack crony Dean Martin.
"Frank Sinatra was the 20th century, he was modern; he was complex. He had swing, and he had attitude. He was the big bang of pop...the man invented pop music." --U2's Bono, who toasted Sinatra with a similar riff during the 1994 Grammys.
"Frank knew how to do it. Everything." --Record mogul Quincy Jones, a former conductor and producer for Sinatra.
"He was a superstar whose generous heart was as big as his talent." --Comedian Bob Hope and wife, Dolores.
"He's the greatest singer of popular songs who ever lived. He is quite irreplaceable." --Former late-night TV king and pal Johnny Carson.
"He was my protector, who always stood up for me, and he was my father figure. But mostly, he was my hero and my friend." --Entertainer Liza Minnelli, the first belter of "New York, New York."
In Sinatra's hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey, it was a day of mourning--the jukebox at the local Piccolo's Clam Bar unplugged.
"The Voice is silent, so there won't be any music today," Piccolo's Pat Spaccavento, told Associated Press.
And in Orange County, California, 80-year-old comic Joey Bishop woke up to a bracing reality: He is the Rat Pack's sole survivor.
First Peter Lawford exited. Then Sammy Davis Jr. Then Dean. Now Sinatra.
Bishop said he was "satisfied" his friend wasn't in pain anymore.
"My immediate feeling was of great loss," he said. "Like I lost something I didn't want to lose."
For more coverage, check out our special Sinatra section.
(UPDATED at 11:30 a.m. on 5/17/98)