As fans of Annette Funicello mourn her death at 70 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, I realized that although the after-school, black-and-white memories belong to those who grew up with the Mousketeers (I didn’t watched the show), her smile belonged to everyone.
It’s a smile she wore even after she announced her MS diagnosis in 1992, when she greeted fans with kind words and good humor at events and shows. When she could no longer walk, and used a wheelchair, I would see photos of her taking care with each person who showed up with a doll or a lunchbox, a record or picture.
