Today I bought commemorative stamps with Gregory Hines on them. He’s dressed in a red blazer, white pants and looks extremely dapper. These are the first stamps I’ve ever purchased with the picture of someone I know on them.

Photo by Newsday

Gregory Hines was an incredible dancer, actor, and everything you’d want in a celebrity crush — charming, kind, and with a twinkle in his eye.

I worked at a video store, and he was a favorite customer of many of us. Viggo Mortensen was another favorite.

Viggo was too shy to interact with us all, but Gregory wasn’t.

Like in any retail business, some customers treat clerks like dirt, but not Gregory Hines. He always had a smile on his face, time for a chat, and once kissed my hand and made me feel like a princess.

Gregory Hines was a first-class act all the way.