Prescott’s mother, Shirley “Lucille” Fine of Canoga Park, California passed away on February 4, 2014. In addition to her son, she is survived by her grandchildren, Noah, Olivia, and Gabe. Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Sidney, and son, Lesley, both of blessed memory.Our deepest condolences go out to Prescott, who cared for his mother tirelessly during her final years; his final act to honor her life was to write the following tribute:
Shirley Lucille Fine was born in Brooklyn, NY on August 6, 1923. She was the youngest of four children. Her brother Henry was the oldest; followed by her sister Edna, and her brother Willie. My mom had sparkling blue eyes, and was a rather stunning brunette, that set her apart from the usual girls in her neighborhood. She was very smart and graduated high school at sixteen, well ahead of all friends. Due to her father’s death, my mom had to get a job to support the family. Shirley was always outgoing, and loved going to the movies. She was fast becoming very social after years of being a bit withdrawn. She loved going to the hottest night clubs in Manhattan. These included the famous “Copa Club”, where on one fateful evening in 1945 she met a most handsome waiter named Sidney. “He was a looker”‘, she would often say in conversations with myself and my children. After some military obligations, Sidney proposed to my Mom, and they were married on April 13, 1947. I was born on May 2, 1951; we lived on Kingston Ave. in the Crown Heights district. Fortunately for me, we lived near Ebbets Field, where the Brooklyn Dodgers played baseball. They were fans of the team, as were everyone who lived in Brooklyn, and I was taken to many games. I wanted to become a baseball player after that, and my mom encouraged me. She had a second child, my brother Lesley, born on February 4, 1955. Shirley was a stay at home mom, but was always involved with what went on in the neighborhood. She was President of my elementary school’s PTA, and took part in many a charity event. She was always a fierce advocate for Israel. She loved dancing, playing Mah Jong, and an occasional cocktail with her friends. My mom had a fierce temper, and any personal attacks against her or my dad would often result in her turning her back on those people. She had integrity and was always honest. She paid her bills in advance of the due date, never had a driving ticket, and also loved to shop. She was so happy when her belief in my career choice as a musician finally paid off. I joined the band “The Knack”, and we became the #1 group in the world due to our #1 single, “My Sharona”. Seeing me play Carnegie Hall, let alone the 100 foot billboard in Times Square, brought so much joy to her and my dad. Unfortunately, my brother Lesley was going in the other direction, which eventually led to his murder on November 1979. After my brother’s death, I persuaded my parents to finally move to California, where I was living, in 1983. She became a grandmother with the birth of my son Noah, in 1987; followed in later years by my daughter, Olivia, and my son, Gabe. This brought her immeasurable happiness. She started to get sick in 1998, and spent her last years living in nursing homes. She was a tough cookie, and even after my father’s death in 2008, never gave up the will to live. With me as her constant companion, she fought hard through much adversity. Shirley, or “Shirl”, as her friends called her, was a one of a kind, vivacious, charming, intense, and had a true zest for life. I am grateful for her belief in me, and trusting me to follow my dream of being a musician, against all odds.
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