NORTH SHORE MOURNS ‘A GREAT MAN’
The Ramis report . . .
The death Monday of comedic filmmaker Harold “Groundhog Day”/“Ghostbusters” Ramis, 69, signaled the end of a huge career that began with freelance work for the Chicago Daily News.
Although Ramis’ writing career parked him on the corner of Hollywood and Vine, he chose instead to homestead in Glencoe, a homeboy in his hometown — where he lived with his wife, Erica, and their children; where his beloved Sacha the dachshund and Buddy the rescue mutt also pitched their dog beds.
“He was such a great man,” said Maureen Hughes, who spent years walking the Ramis family’s dogs on the North Shore [and walked Sneed’s dogs years ago].
“He loved his family . . . and he loved his dogs,” Hughes said. “Little Sacha died of a brain tumor four years ago, about the time [Ramis] was getting sick, but Buddy, who was obsessed with tennis balls, stuck to him like glue.”
“Buddy sensed he was sick and wouldn’t leave his side,” she said. “Then Buddy died two years ago, and [Ramis] lost his loyal sidekick.”
Ramis, who had suffered from strokes and complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis since 2010, spent time at Mayo Clinic; then seemed to be recovering; spent time reuniting with old Second City pals like Bill Murray, and then went downhill.
“It was his wife’s birthday Sunday . . . the day before he died,” Hughes said. “How awful for her.”
Hughes, a legendary North Shore dogwalker who sports a “Pet Au Pair” license plate, also described Ramis as a “voracious reader who frequented Starbucks in Glencoe or Highland Park and the Northfield Restaurant — and was ready to give you a warm, big ‘Hi,’ even though he was so famous.”
Ramis leaves behind a formidable body of work, which included a Second City career and writing credits for “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and directing the hilarious films “Caddyshack,” “Groundhog Day,” “Analyze This” and episodes of NBC’s “The Office.”
He also was a partner in Harry Caray’s restaurant at Navy Pier, where all the leather-bound scripts from his films are on display — as well as his “Ghostbusters” jumpsuit and glasses.
“It’s also where Harold dined with Ernie Banks, who loved his movies and wanted him to make a movie about the Cubs,” said Harry Caray’s CEO, Grant DePorter.
“It turned out to be the last thing they talked about.”
Muscle madam . . .
First lady Michelle Obama, whose fit body is toned at the White House gym, has taken her routine public.
Muscle menu: She was spotted several times at a D.C. workout studio called Solidcore, which is known for producing hard-core sweat . . . so much so, the studio owner told the Washington press, “You’re working muscles to the point of failure.”
Food menu: The fit first lady also was spotted stopping by food guru Rich Melman’s newly opened Joe’s Stone Crab in Washington, D.C., over the weekend — ordering her favorite protein routine: Steak. Huh? Restaurant co-owner Billy Marovitz was spotted chatting up Gov. Pat Quinn at the eatery over the weekend.
Papal patter . . .
Actor Russell Crowe, who plays the biblical Noah of Ark fame in the upcoming film “Noah,” dispatched a tweet to Pope Francis on Sunday, urging him see the film.
The tweet: “Dear Holy Father @Pontifex @Pontifex_it @DarrenAronofsky #Noah film. Screening? The message of the film is powerful, fascinating, resonant”
The Rodman report . . .
Roll ’em: Yikes! A film based on basketball bad boy Dennis Rodman’s hoops diplomacy in North Korea is in the works. Titled “Diplomats,” the film will showcase Rodman’s goofball trips to visit his best buddy, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, an uber basketball fan. Rodman returned from the despotic country shaken, stirred and whisked into rehab.
Sneedlings . . .
Tuesday’s birthdays: Joakim Noah, 29; Jerry Reinsdorf, 78, and Chelsea Handler, 39, and happy belated birthday to former Gov. George Ryan, who turned 80 on Monday.