December 2007:

It's with sadness that I must inform our visitors that Bill Patterson, author of "The Farmer's Daughter Remembered", passed away at his home late November. On behalf of all Inger's fans, we owe Bill a debt for writing her life story, for fighting to keep her memory alive, and for sharing his insights about our favorite actress. Bill will be missed by his family and his many friends.

Karen & Sheri, thank you so much for Bill's research & materials! They will go a long way towards enabling this website to flourish! When the time comes, all of his work will be passed on, according to his wishes. I truly enjoyed his friendship and am happy to have been of some help to him!

April 2008:

This 38th anniversary of Inger's passing is a bit more somber than usual, because I am reminded that Bill Patterson is also no longer with us. Typically around the anniversary of Inger's death, there is a spike of interest in her career and the number of hits to this website jumps accordingly. There is also an increase in the number of questions about Inger directed to this site. That's when I realize how important a resource Bill was to Fenelon [the site's originator] and then to me, once Fenelon "passed on" responsibility for the site. I appreciate the time and effort Bill spent gathering information for his book, because it is at the least, an attempt to document Inger's colorful life, when no one else had done so previously. So simply as a fan, I am grateful for any and all things that keeps Inger's memory alive, anything that expands my knowledge and appreciation of her as a gifted actress and as a genuine, caring person.

I am also aware of some of the mixed reviews and criticisms Bill received about his book, about the accuracy of some of the facts mentioned, and about the basis of some of the questions he raises regarding the circumstances of Inger's passing. Let me say this: I saw firsthand how Bill struggled to find a publisher for his manuscript and being turned down repeatedly, being told there was simply no interest in Inger. When Bill eventually struck an agreement with Xlibris, he did not have the luxury of a professional editor to proof his manuscript or suggest changes in writing style. I am also the first to admit I have no way to vouch for the veracity his assumptions or conclusions; I'm simply a fan. I do agree that many of the facts of Inger's life have been obscured and distorted by a number of factors: time, failing memories, hearsay inadvertently passed on as fact, misinterpretations and exaggerations. One of Bill Patterson's own stated goals for writing Inger's life story was to try to separate fact from tabloid, "fanzine" fiction, but given the sheer amount of what has been written in the past in the press and assumed as fact, he could not have succeeded. It isn't much of a stretch to say even his own efforts may have contributed to the confusion and misinformation: some aspects of Inger's life are simply unverifiable today, and it was impossible to interview all of her family and friends for their insights. For this reason alone, as in all things, the reader/visitor needs to contemplate what they perceive to be the facts, evaluate things, and then draw their own conclusions, form their own opinions - and ensure they remain exactly that: personal constructs and opinions, not facts.

I say this because in overseeing this site, I am constantly reminded of the sensitive nature dealing with many facets of Inger's personal life. It's not difficult to understand her family being upset with all of the misinformation and sensationalism that has been tossed out over the years, especially around the circumstances of her relationships and passing. It's not my intention offend anyone or to intrude upon Inger's family's privacy or to be insensitive to their sense of loss, even with the passage of time. If there are gross inaccuracies in the site's content, I wholeheartedley welcome the family's comments and criticisms, and I will make the necessary corrections! The site will always be an open, non-commercial, collaborative effort to commemorate Inger's amazing career and personal accomplishments.

April 2009:

This year marks the 39th anniversary of Inger's passing...has it really been that long? For many of us who recall that day in 1970, it somehow doesn't seem all that long ago. Yet the inevitable march of time continues on, and every year there are fewer of Inger's contemporaries who can recall firsthand their memories and anecdotes of our favorite actress. Last year, Inger's good friends Del Close and George Furth passed away, as did her Madigan co-star, Richard Widmark. Last year, I was fortunate enough to speak with Peter Falk very briefly about his work with Inger, and he continues to have only positive memories of her, even after all these years. In a similar vein, a co-worker of mine just recently watched The Hitchhiker episode for the first time, and she commented about how impressive Inger was in the role:"...the blonde actress...she was really good...she made the show so scary!" Perhaps it's a measure of Inger's talent, of how good an actress she was, that people watching her performances now in 2009 are still captivated by her work. She continues to garner new fans so many years later; how impressive is that? I think in some small way it will explain why so many will pause to remember this unique individual on April 30th...I know I will.

Rest in peace, Inger; your family, friends, and fans are thinking of you.

Happy Birthday, Inger!
No matter the years, your smile will always be bright!
April 2010
Forty years later, we still pause to reflect and remember the warmth of her smile...

   

---