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A day of their lives in Niles
Soap star attracts fans from all over
By SEAN BARRON
NILES
Pam O’Brien of Dallas not only recalls the day one of her favorite soap-opera characters debuted but also his first line.
“He came on [“Days of Our Lives”] on Oct. 31, 2008, and his first line was, ‘Come out slowly, hands in the air,’” O’Brien said, referring to the opening appearance of Rafe Hernandez, an FBI agent played by Galen Gering on the long-running NBC daytime program.
On Saturday, she got to hear a lot more than daily lines from Gering. That’s because the “Days of Our Lives” star was the center attraction of Saturday’s VIP Meet and Greet event at Eastwood Field.
Sponsoring the 90- minute gathering were The Circulatory Center and WFMJ, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.
Hundreds of Valley residents and out-of-state fans filled the Fun Zone next to left field to talk to, pose with and receive autographs from Gering before the game between the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (15-26) and the Williamsport Crosscutters. Also part of the festivities was a picnic.
O’Brien was one of nine members of the Laughing Penguins, all of whom wore bright, blue T-shirts and recently met one another for the first time. The nickname comes from the fact that a penguin is the mascot for Hernandez and Sami Brady, his fiancee on the show, O’Brien explained.
Helping to organize the group was Jerilyn Moore of Brentwood, Tenn., who was in Lima, Ohio, visiting her sister before making the four-hour journey to Eastwood Field.
“We watch the show regularly and met on NBC’s message board,” which let several group members know about Gering’s local appearance, Moore noted, adding that she helped design the shirts.
Also part of the Laughing Penguins were Waverly Barbieri and her daughter, Brittany, who made the nine-hour drive from their Raleigh, N.C., home to meet the actor.
”It’s fun to have a good character to root for on a soap opera,” Waverly Barbieri said, adding that this was her first visit to the Mahoning Valley.
One person who didn’t have to travel for hours to meet Gering was Scott Lightner of Farrell, Pa., who came with his fiancee, Twila Custer.
“He was real friendly and funny,” Lightner, who works for Wheatland Tube, said of Gering.
Lightner said he also appreciated Gering’s having provided an autographed 8-inch-by-10-inch photograph for Custer’s mother, Winnie, a big fan of the show, who was unable to attend.
Gering talked to Lightner about what it’s like to work with fellow actors, Lightner continued. For the most part, cast members work well with one another, Gering told him.
“The fans are awesome. It never ceases to amaze me that people are so devoted to the show,” Gering, who lives in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles, said before throwing out the game’s first pitch. “It’s very heartwarming and nice to connect with the fans.”
The Scrappers met with a talent agency that notified the team that Gering was available for the event, noted Mark Libs, the Scrappers’ director of group sales. Fans also came from Tampa, Fla., Boston and elsewhere for the gathering, he said.