"One night, we were on the Vegas strip and met Babe at a show. He was what you'd expect from his resume: hilarious, engaging. But it was during a quieter moment that whatever headliner was on stage recognized Pier in the crowd. Babe went to the stage.

"He did Burt Lancaster, Spencer Tracy and Tony Bennett, among others. Spot on. Standing ovation. Among my first thoughts: How did we ever let this guy leave?I worry sometimes that so many of us walking through the city think a "Babe Pier" is a square pillar over water made exclusively for infants. We're so awash in controversy and distractive noise that we forget the reason so many people cling to such an irrational love for such a dysfunctional place.

"The reason is Babe Pier and his peers. They made New London unique... We just lost Babe. And with [him], we lose the city's soul, one wisecrack at a time. He was all ours once. He still is. He's part of what makes New London unexplainable."  (Read the full article by Day columnist Mike DiMauro.)