Annette Funicello was born in Utica on October 22, 1942. She lived here until she was four, when her family moved to Southern California in 1946. A few years later, she was discovered by Walt Disney and became one of the best-known Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club. She’s one of several familiar entertainment names with surprising Utica connections — including Justus D. Barnes of Little Falls and The Great Train Robbery and Utica-born Super Fly star Ron O’Neal.

But Annette’s connection to Utica didn’t end when she moved away. She returned to the area over the years to visit relatives, including aunts who lived on Lansing Street. During summer visits, she was known to accompany them to Vernon Downs, where she enjoyed the races.

Did you ever meet Annette during one of her visits home? Maybe you waited on her at a restaurant, saw her at Vernon Downs, met her at a local event, or simply happened to cross paths with her. Maybe a parent or grandparent had an Annette story they passed down to you.

Annette Funicello died on April 8, 2013, in Bakersfield, California, at the age of 70, following a long battle with multiple sclerosis.