Dr. Norman Dannenberg, 79, was dying of cancer in a New York hospital. His only solace was the daily visit of Lucia Mattioli, 66, his mistress for 45 years.
A New York judge thwarted an attempt by the doctor's nephew to have him declared incompetent, ban Miss Mattioli from the hospital, and be named guardian of the doctor's $500,000 estate. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Blyn, in refusing guardianship, said, 'To deny this terminally ill (man) the solace and benefit of a lifetime companion would be the cruelest kind of treatment.' Miss Matttioli said Dannenberg had been 'the only man in my life since I was 21. I am not ashamed of my relationship with (him).' The doctor died last week, five days after Blyn's ruling.
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