Opera Legend Beverly Sills Considered the People's Diva (2/2)

Sills passion for the arts never faded, even after her retirement from the stage in 1980. She became one of the most influential and successful leaders in the arts world serving as the head of New York's biggest arts complex, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and later, the Metropolitan Opera.

"She was a championfundraiser, she was such an impassioned advocate for her own company. And of course, she had a great performing background to back it up and people wanted to help her. People wanted to give her money that she asked for."

Sills donated generous amounts of time, money and compassion to charitable causes outside of the arts as well. As the mother of two children afflicted with serious birth defects, she became a public voice for children's charities. Few artists have bridged opera and the Muppets with elegance" class="hjdict" word="elegance" target=_blank>elegance and charm.

Beverly Sills is remembered as a woman who brightened the faces of children in their living rooms, music lovers in majestic" class="hjdict" word="majestic" target=_blank>majestic opera houses and millions of ordinary Americans.