BARRY LEVINE: The story of Linda Hoffman 1 and Linda Hoffman 2

This story is so strange that Hollywood screenwriters would not believe it.

Bobby Rydell, a teen idol, actor, author and stage performer, got married on Jan. 17, 2009, to Linda Hoffman. It was the second marriage for both.

It precipitated a series of events, both before and after the nuptials, that were unbelievable.

Linda divorced her husband in 1981 and took her maiden name, Hoffman. She eventually became known as Linda Hoffman 2. Linda Hoffman 1 has served as the president of Bobby Rydell’s fan club for more than 50 years and also as his assistant. She also coordinates his website.

The fun started after Linda 2’s divorce.

Linda 2, now 62, began getting strange telephone calls. “People were asking for cassettes by Bobby Rydell, who I did not know or was familiar with his music,” Linda 2 recalled.

These phone calls persisted until 2000.

The two Lindas had crossed paths for 25 years. They lived approximately two miles apart in the same town, used the same doctors, dentists, jewelers and shopped in many of the same stores — where their records would regularly get misplaced in one another’s files.

Each knew of one another’s existence but they had never met.

Linda 2 would mistakenly receive phone calls meant for Linda 1 regarding Rydell’s fan club. There were fans seeking a Bobby Rydell CD or autographed picture. Linda 1’s phone number was unlisted.

Linda 2 thought they meant Bobby Darin and said, “Isn’t he dead?” Fans managed to straighten her out.

The two Lindas finally met in the physician’s office where Linda 2 was working as a cardiac sonographer.

Linda 2 first met Rydell on Halloween night 2007 on a blind date. There were approximately 20 guests at the Halloween party and during the dinner Rydell and Linda 2 went outside for a cigarette. The main topic of conversation was Medicare.

They were supposed to go out again on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Linda 2 returned from a family gathering for the date, but Rydell never showed or called.

She called him and asked, “Are you OK? … Is your mother OK?”

When Rydell said they are fine, Linda 2 responded, “You are really rude!”

Despite the mix-up, the two continued to date and became engaged on Christmas 2008. They then exchanged vows in Las Vegas on Jan. 17, 2009.

Linda Hoffman 2 opted to keep her maiden name in order to avoid possible confusion with such things as social security. Her decision necessitated the designations Linda 1 and Linda 2. Linda 1 got that designation because she had been with Rydell much longer than Linda 2.

Marriage also brought changes to Linda 2’s lifestyle.

She had to adjust to being alone when Rydell did shows either with the Golden Boys, Frankie Avalon and Fabian, or as a solo act.

“I really don’t mind the alone time. … It gives me the opportunity to catch up with people and also visit my sister who lives a couple of hours away.

“Bobby’s and my situation is different than a lot of young entertainers and pro athletes because we don’t have children. I’m sure it would be a lot different if we were raising young children,” Linda 2 explained.

Bobby and Linda 2 are living in the same house that Bobby had purchased for himself and his family as a 21-year-old in 1963.

“We wanted to completely remodel the house,” Linda 2 revealed. “We got all new furniture and removed the drapes to make it more open.”

Linda 2 also played a major role in helping Rydell survive his 20-hour, double-transplant procedure on July 9, 2012.

Linda 2 was present when Rydell did a show in New Brunswick, N.J., during the winter of 2012. “He was just goofy on stage,” she recalled. “He did one of his jokes that was too long. The audience didn’t notice it, but I did.

“He was supposed to leave on a tour of Australian on March 9, 2012, “I told Dick Fox (his manager) that if he goes to Australia he’s going to come home in a box.”

On March 23, Rydell came under the care of a transplant team for a new liver. Because of medicine he was taking, Rydell suffered kidney failure two months later which meant he needed a new liver and kidneys.

He then had to start dialysis.

On June 28, 2012, he was listed on the top of the hospital’s transplant list.

“He was sleeping a lot at this time and doing what he was told to do,” Linda 2 said.

She added, “We kept going back and forth to the hospital during that period and were scheduled to be there from July 3 to July 4. I told him let’s stay because a transplant probably will become available next week.

A 21-year-old Pennsylvania girl was killed by an automobile during July 4th weekend and was pronounced dead on July 8, one day before the transplant.

“Bobby really wasn’t scared at all about the procedure,” Linda 2 said.

Incredibly, 10 days after the operation, he was released from the hospital and returned home.

Rydell continued to convalesce at home. Six months later, he was performing in Las Vegas.

With approval from the Gift of Life organization, Bobby and Linda 2 met with the donor’s mother on Sept. 13, 2013.

They later met the donor’s entire family and had the family transported to where Rydell was performing to see the show.

Rydell probably has done more than a thousand shows during his glittering career. None was more meaningful than this one.

This week in rock history — “Splish Splash” by Bobby Darin entered the charts on June 21, 1958, where it eventually reached No. 3. He later said it took him 10 minutes to write the song. … Fabian’s biggest hit, “Tiger,” entered the charts on June 22, 1959, where it would reach No. 3. The Philadelphia singer placed eight songs in the Top 40. … Smokey Robinson appeared in concert for the last time with The Miracles, in Washington on June 23, 1972. …

Egyptian government officials announced on June 25, 1957, that rock ‘n’ roll music can no longer be played in public, calling it an “imperialist plot.” … Gary U.S. Bonds had his only No. 1 hit when “Quarter to Three” topped the chart on June 26, 1961. Bonds and Gene Barge (Daddy G.) added lyrics to an instrumental called, “A Night with Daddy G.” … The Drifters’ last Top 10 hit, “Under the Boardwalk,” peaked at No. 4. Also on June 27, 1964, Jan & Dean’s Top 5 hit “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” was released. It climbed to No. 3.

Barry Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].