Some people slandered them, others admired
them. She - the legendary Edith Piaf, 46 years old, but looking much older. He
- the young and handsome as a Greek god, 26-year-old Greek Theofanis Lambukas,
who was an integral part of the last year of the "Parisian sparrow".
In February 1962, Edith was admitted to
the hospital with severe pneumonia, complicated by her oncological disease. One
day, a young man knocked on the door of her hospital room with a huge bouquet
of flowers and a doll in his hands, the Greek Theofanis Lambukas, a handsome
and aspiring singer, a passionate admirer of Piaf.
As it turned out later, love entered
Edith's hospital room. When they discharged her, they left together holding
hands. Edith came up with an artistic pseudonym for Theofanis, Theo Sarapo,
making an analogy with the Greek "sagapo" (I love you).
Theo truly loved Edith, he was not
bothered by her illness, bad habits, bad character; he did not notice her hands
twisted by arthritis and her body crippled by life and illness. He introduced
her to his parents and proposed marriage.
They got married in September 1962, and in
October they were married in an Orthodox church in Paris. His love illuminated
her last months, he gave her another year of happiness.
When the two sang together on stage,
people in the hall cried. Piaf appeared on stage for the last time in March
1963. Her health deteriorated sharply, Theo took her to mountain and seaside
resorts, took care of her like a small child, but on the night of October 10,
Edith died in Theo's arms.
As she herself said shortly before her
death: "Everyone has the right to a last love. It helps a person to leave
with dignity. I want to go exactly like that."
Three days later, at the Paris cemetery of
Pere Lachaise, over 40 thousand people sent Edith on her last journey. Theo
stood by her coffin and sobbed uncontrollably. Many people believed that Theo
married Edith to get her fortune, but after her death he was left with only
debts exceeding 45 million francs, which he paid off for the rest of his life.
Theo followed Edith seven years later,
died in a car accident. He was buried in the same grave with her.
Edith Piaf sang about love all her life,
but she found it in her death.
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