We all have those legendary performers we wish we could have met in person. For me, the list begins with Jackie Gleason, Jimmy Stewart and James Cagney. Yet another name resonates as being at the top of my "wish I woulda met" list: The King of Cool, Dean Martin.

Martin passed away Christmas Day, 1995. I thought I would share my experience with the Dean Martin family. I had the good fortune of meeting his daughter, Deana (yes, that's Dean with an "a") at a panel presentation with the children of famous Italian Americans in Washington, D.C., a few years ago.