DEATHIVERSARY: BERRY BERENSON-PERKINS (SEPT. 11, 2001)

Berinthia "Berry" Berenson-Perkins was an accomplished fashion photographer and actor who stood by her husband, "Psycho" actor, Anthony Perkins, through his AIDS diagnosis. Through her better-known sister, actress Marisa Berenson ("Death In Venice," "Cabaret" and "Barry Lyndon"), Berry came to photograph a roll-call of Hollywood stars. In 1973, Berry married Perkins while 3 months pregnant, which prompted her mother, Marquesa Gogo Berenson di Cacciapooti, to publicly call her a "degenerate." During Perkins' therapy to "cure" his homosexuality, he was asked to flip through a Vogue magazine and pick out his ideal woman. He pointed to a spread on Berry. Years later, they met at the townhouse Perkins' shared with his lover, dancer Grover Dale. There was little doubt that Perkins was both sexually attracted to and in love with Berry. Then, in 1990, Perkins tested positive for HIV. He wanted it kept secret even from their closest friends, which heaped a tremendous burden on Berry. On September 2, 1992, Perkins died with Berry clutching his hand. Nine years later, on September 11, 2001, Berry boarded American Airlines Flight 11, which would ultimately crash into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. 

All 92 people on board were killed, including David Angell (the creator and executive producer of the television sitcom "Frasier"), his wife, Lynn Angell. "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane had been scheduled to be on the flight but arrived late, missing the flight. MacFarlane now only flies private. Actor Mark Wahlberg was also scheduled to be on the flight but canceled his ticket at the last minute. There would've been no talking bear movie, and I wouldn't be married to my husband if MacFarland and Wahlberg had been on the flight. But that's a story for another day.