Jack Benny’s love story survives his death.

Before the comedian died of cancer in October 1974, he made arrangements for a very romantic gesture for his wife, Mary Livingstone. His love survived his death.

Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone

Who was Jack Benny?

Benjamin Kubelsky was born on February 14, 1894 and died on December 26, 1974. He was an American comedian, vaudevillian, radio, television, and film actor. He was also a notable violinist. Hailing from Chicagoland, if you’re over 50 you probably know him by his professional name -Jack Benny. Recognized as a leading American entertainer of the 20th century, Benny portrayed his character as a miser and a grouser.When performing, he would always claim to be 39 years of age, well into his 70’s.

Benny was known for his comic timing, and his unique ability to create laughter with a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated “Well!” His radio and television programs, popular from the 1930s to the 1960s, were a major influence on the sitcom genre today. Although he came alive under the spotlight, in private Jack was unbearably shy.

Jack Benny was painfully introverted.

When Jack was a young man, he worked in the same film studio as a young lady named Sadie who he wanted to date. He thought she was beautiful, and he longed for her, but he was too shy and embarrassed to ask her out. He couldn't get up the courage so he started sending a single, red rose to her desk with no note attached to the rose.

Every day she received the red rose. Sadie's single red rose.

Finally one day, she asked the florist who was sending her the roses. They told her a young man named Jack who worked in the same studio. She had an idea who he was and she was flattered. 

Finally they began talking and Jack asked her out on a double date with her second cousin Zeppo Marx. Their date was actually to a Passover Seder. Sadie, who was also a comedian soon adopted Mary Livingstone as her stage name.

So Sadie aka Mary Livingstone thought that after they started dating the roses would stop. 
But they didn’t. They kept coming…a single rose every day.

Benny gets the courage to ask Mary to be his wife.

Then they were engaged and Mary thought the roses would stop. 

But they didn’t stop.

He married his true love in 1927 after a whirlwind courtship. 

Surely the roses would stop now.

But, they didn’t. 

They even kept coming after they were married.

Every day a single red rose would show up for Mrs. Mary Benny.

Jack, Joan and Mary.

Even after marriage, the roses continued to arrive daily.

After five, ten years and for decades later a single red rose continued to be delivered to Mary wherever they were as a sign of his love. Mary collaborated with Benny throughout most of his career and they later adopted a daughter, Joan.

Jack Benny dies and Mary is heartbroken.

Then, at age 80 Jack Benny unexpectedly died of pancreatic cancer. Mary was inconsolable.

The day after the funeral, to her surprise, a single rose was delivered for Mrs. Benny.

After several days with the red roses continuing to arrive daily, Mrs. Benny went to the florist and said, “I don’t know if you realize this or not, but Mr. Benny passed away. I know it is kind of you, but you don’t need to do this any longer.”

The florist responded, “Mrs. Benny, you don’t understand. Jack made provisions years ago to provide you a single red rose every day you are alive.” And, the lovely red roses continued to arrive every day for the next eight years until Mary’s death, as a memorial to Jack’s devotion to Mary.

The roses continued until the day she died.

Nancy Burban 2013

Funeral fund