LET'S INVESTIGATE
As a consummate researcher, I love connecting people. It’s a bit of a story how I made a fortuitous connection between my cousins and two unrelated people seeking their whereabouts.
It all started with a Facebook post by a cousin on my husband’s side. The bio heading for her friend’s brother's obituary caught my eye. “Hammond native who wrote for 'The Wonder Years,' ‘The Bob Newhart Show' and ‘All in the Family’ died.” For more on all the connections and the complete obituary, see “All The Pegs Fit,” dated November 21, 2023, at sharonmarkcohen.com.
The first connection I made was with a woman named Strawberry. After finding my blog post, “All the Pegs Fit,” online, she contacted me through my website, desperate to contact my cousins. Before I could respond, she followed up with an email.
Strawberry wrote: “Hi Sharon, I tried you last night through your website but figured I might try you here as well. Please accept my apologies for the intrusion but I'm in a bit of a pickle concerning my family. My name is Strawberry Saroyan, and I'm seeking a contact for Phil Doran's sons (or just their names). My father is now dating the woman that was Phil's last girlfriend… I'm sorry to bother you with this but if you felt comfortable sending me any info on how I might contact any relatives of Phil's, or any names even, I would be very appreciative. I'm easily findable on Google etc (I am a published writer, journalist for places like the NY Times, etc.) and am reachable at …
Thanks for your consideration.”
I replied on Sun, Mar 30, 2025, 10:29 PM
“Dear Strawberry,
“Be on the lookout for contact from Phil's son. I forwarded your request, and he said he would contact you as soon as possible.
“I hope things work out favorably.
“My curiosity has gotten the best of me, and I wonder how you made the connection.”
In response to my reply, Strawberry, a fellow writer and journalist, emailed,
on Mon, Mar 31, 2025, 8:06 AM
“Dear Sharon,
“It's lovely to hear from you - and indeed I heard from Phil's son last night. So we are in contact, and I'm so appreciative of you forwarding my message.
“…I was able to find the article about Phil giving a talk in Laguna that I'd read, and from there it was a matter of putting on my research hat and trying to find his kids. It wasn't as straightforward as I'd thought it might be, but one of the things I found - and probably the most helpful - was your blog post "All the Pegs Fit." It gave me new info and when I saw you were a genealogist as well as writer I thought you would especially care about families (mine as well as yours) and understand their complexities. Or so I hoped!
“Thanks again for being so helpful,…
“All best,
“Strawberry”
I readily replied to Strawberry on Apr 1, 2025, 5:14 AM
“Dear Strawberry,
“I'm so happy that you made the connection…
“Knowing that my writing has helped someone gives me great pleasure.
“Be well and stay safe.
“~Sharon”
On September 23, 2026, I was texting with our cousin who first posted Phil’s obituary on Facebook many months after his death. Susan F. wrote—”Phil’s sister Debbie and her husband Hank are very good friends of ours. We have cruised with them and traveled to Israel with them. They used to live in Munster, In and belonged to our temple there. They moved to ft myers full time and when I go down there with my friends we always hang out with Debbie and Hank. Phil and his partner went on one of our cruises with us and commissioned me to make a bracelet for his partner, [the woman he was with].”
About a year after successfully making the connection for Strawberry with my cousins, Patti Schaub Perkins came upon my blog post “All the Pegs Fit,” and like Strawberry, she reached out to me through my website at sharonmarkcohen.com. Our son Judd, my webmaster, forwarded a new comment from Patti Schaub Perkins on ALL THE PEGS FIT:
Patti wrote: “I hope someone sees this. I worked with Phil on THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW and babysat for his (and Anita's ) 2 boys. Been trying to locate him for years, and so sorry to hear both he and Anita have passed away. Can someone contact me: [incorrect email address provided]. Thank you. Patti Schaub Perkins”
Thu, Nov 13, 11:15 AM
“Thank you for reaching out Patti, and for your kind words.
I have forwarded your contact information to my cousins.
Best,
-Sharon
sharonmarkcohen.com”
It turned out that Patti was having computer troubles; her email address was a bit “off,” and my return email bounced.
Thu, Nov 13, 10:44 PM, after notifying my cousin, he replied,
“Ok, thanks. I tried to reach out but it bounced back too. Please let me know if you hear back from her... Thanks again!”
As a consummate researcher, I put my knowledge to work again and figured out her correct email address. As Strawberry, Patti could not have been more appreciative.
The next day, Fri, Nov 14, 12:54 AM, I typed a response on my website in case she checked, and after discussing some possibilities with Judd, I sent emails to a couple of possible addresses after thinking about what the problem may have been. The problem was simply that she used the letter o instead of the zero (0) in her email address.
I wrote:
”See below-the email to the address you provided on my website bounced. Phil and Anita’s younger son tried contacting you at that email also.
“I decided to try variations of the email address that you posted…”
On Nov 14, 2025, 1:11 AM
Patti replied,
”Thank soooo very much for responding. My computer was giving me issues and sent the draft email.....and then nothing else, including correcting the email error, would go through. How kind to be so diligent! email is: [correct email address]
“I would love to hear from the family just to touch base. Phil and Anita were good friends...plus I babysat for the boys... and to be truthful I been searching quite a while for them.
“I don't want to bother anyone. I just want to ask a couple of questions.
“As I said in previous email, I worked with Phil on THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW. I was Regis Philbin's assistant.
“Again thank you for responding.
On Fri, Nov 14, after relaying the correct email address to my cousin, he wrote,
“Thanks! I'll try her again...”
On Fri, Nov 14, 1:26 AM, I wrote to Patti again.
“Wonderful! You’ve found them! I forwarded this email chain [to my cousins].
“Now, a proposal! Would you be interested in being interviewed on the radio about your work in TV? My husband does a one-hour weekly show called The World of Work. He interviews people in all walks of life. You can go to www.wdvrfm.org and check the World of Work Archives. He even interviewed Carl Reiner. He’s been hosting the show weekly for 28 years.
“Lmk!
“All the best,
“-Sharon
Patti replied on Fri, Nov 14, 11:43 AM
“So happy to receive this email this morning! I'm on way to a family event . Will get back to you later this evening. But real quick....I would enjoy being interviewed. I had an interesting career...and quite by accident.
“However I live in Boston..does that create an issue?
“Enjoy your day!
“Patti”
My reply on Fri, Nov 14, 11:46 AM was:
“No problem at all—he does the interviews on Zoom! Thank you! Sent from my iPhone”
Later that day, Patti wrote:
“Back at home ....
“I received a great email from [Phil’s son]! It is such a thrill to finally be in contact with the family. It's taken quite a few years to do so.
“As I said I live in Boston - actually a town south of Boston. In 1972, I returned here after my television days in Los Angeles. I then worked for the NBC affiliate here in Boston for about 5 years.
“My entrance into the television industry is quite a story...and I would be very interested in speaking with your husband/radio interview. I was a nurse, then entered (and left!) the convent, and moved to L.A. where I accidentally got into television...another story! Phil was an inspiration during those days. We had great conversations that stay with me to this day.
“You - or anyone - can contact me at …. I see by your website
site that you are on the east coast? I am in/out on most days but if a convenient time to talk is set up I can be here for that!
“Enjoy your weekend
“Patti
To that, I replied,
“Wow Patti! That’s going to be a great show!! Either Esther Jones or my husband, or both, will contact you to set a date and share details. I’m thrilled that [my cousin] was able to get in touch with you.
“Looking forward to listening to you on the radio.
“Best wishes,
“-Sharon”
It’s just amazing how much good came from reading a sad Facebook post.
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If you missed Patti’s fascinating interview, go to www.wdvrfm.org archives and look for World of Work, September 15, 2026. You’ll be glad you listened.
Patti Schaub Perkins