The catchphrase that encapsulates Robin Lipman’s awe for one of the greatest performers of all time is timeless and timeless. A fundraising campaign for the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai would be the manifestation of that incredible level of fan appreciation.
On Christmas Eve 1976, 14-year-old Lipman went to the movies with her mother outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Lipman had bright eyes. A Star Is Born, starring Academy Award winner Barbra Streisand, is featured on the marquee.
That day was the beginning of a lifetime admirer of Streisand who was determined to give back to the public in the performer’s honor. Enthralled with Streisand’s mesmerizing portrayal, Lipman made 163 theater visits in total, saving every cent from weekend and after-school babysitting gigs as well as lawn mowing work.
“The theater was located in a mall, and I used to take two buses to get there,” Lipman said. After that, I would go to about four showings at a time and would get emotional each time. I would simply cry uncontrollably.
