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Love, John Lennon & Yoko Ono 1980

Of course we all know Lennon died in December, 1980 but I wanted to share an amazing story that has become a part of family lore in our house.

Back in October, 1980 my brother and I wrote to many celebrities on behalf of my grandparents' impending 50th anniversary, soliciting wishes, advice and sentiments to include in an album for them.

As young lads of 17 and 14 at the time, John Lennon was at the top of our list. So in October of 1980 a letter (and cringe-worthy "Yellow Submarine" rendering) were sent to Lennon's residence at the Dakota.

Of course, we all know how the story ends in December, 1980. Time passed and the years went on. Two to be exact. So it was a bit of a shock in mid-1982 when Yoko Ono's office called (they had somehow tracked our information down, likely from the return envelope) to say that they had gone into a room that had been closed off since John's death and found something from him for us, and would we still be interested in it?

I'm pretty sure they offered to send it in the mail, but not wanting to risk it (or miss the opportunity to visit the Dakota) I told them I would come in to the city and made arrangements to pick it up the next day.

The very next day, I found myself standing outside the Dakota. After making a phone call, the doorman standing outside, ushered me from the archway to the vestibule where I was met by Yoko's assistant who produced the inscribed illustration you see here today, signed in the final weeks of John Lennon's life, and with the '1980' inscription.

To this day I am affected by the fact that he was never to have the 'many more happy & healthy years' he wished my grandparents.

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Permalink Reply by hitmanten on May 10, 2013 at 1:45pm

Probably 20 or so. Everybody from the Pope (papal blessing) to the President (generic white house birthday wish card) to the Mayor of NY. Lennon was the standout in my mind (thankfully the grandparents recognized that and gave me the original, but kept a copy for the book).

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Permalink Reply by Edward Siebert on May 11, 2013 at 3:43am

I am a longtime Beatles fan and collector, and that is the coolest story ever!

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Permalink Reply by KarlKeaton on May 11, 2013 at 9:41am

What a great story. It seems that John was a very good through the mail signer as I've read of many instances of him replying with autographs in the later part of his life. It's also great that Yoko/Yoko's staff went to such great efforts to see that it got to you.