Lin back in the islands after Gandolfini funeral

Ruth Lin, James Gandolfini‘s mother-in-law, who rushed to her daughter, Deborah Gandolfini‘s side in L.A. immediately after the award-winning actor, 51, died of a heart attack in Italy June 19, has returned home. She spent a month with Deborah and the couple’s 8-month-old baby, Liliana, in California and New York City.

She said Deborah gave a beautiful speech at Gandolfini’s services in NYC and the baby was well-behaved throughout. "Deborah can’t believe he’s gone," Ruth said. "It’s going to take a while."

She said the paparazzi in New York were terrible, even several days after the funeral. They pounced when Deborah, with the baby in a stroller, walked with a girlfriend down the street. Ruth said New Yorkers shouted, "Leave her alone," as they rushed back home. Some people even threw things at the paparazzi, Ruth said. She said it was much calmer after they returned to L.A. Ruth said the baby and the family dog both seem to know Gandolfini is gone. …

NAVY CHAPLAIN Lt. Shawn Osborne and his team of eight others, including two women, circled Oahu by bicycling, running, swimming and kayaking to raise support for Convoy of Hope Hawaii last weekend. They started at Waimanalo Beach Park at 6:15 a.m. July 26 and seven of the nine, including the two fit civilian women, finished 50 hours later at 8:15 a.m. Sunday at the same spot. Those taking part besides Osborne were: Ashley Clay, Michelle Ragain and Navy men John Draper, Tim Graef, Travis Lawhon, Matt Walker, Alan Brandt and Tommy Tinney. Brandt and Tinney could not go the full route because of prior commitments. Four "mobile sherpas" in four vehicles and a trailer — Osborne’s wife, Karen, Tony Manfredi, Wendy Woodard and the Navy’s Ryan Skidgel — transported the group’s food, bikes, kayaks, camping gear, etc. …

SWINGING ON: Sunset Jazz with Shari Lynn, Jimmy Borges & Friends at La Pietra is scheduled for Sept. 8. Gates open at 5 p.m. and music begins at 5:30. Tickets are $65 and include wine, coffee and dessert. The Louis Armstrong tables for eight are $2,500 and include premium seating, reserved parking for the table host and pupu and dessert by Eberhard "Chef Hardy" Kintscher of Michel’s at Colony Surf. To reserve seats, call 922-2744. …

THREE "Billion-Dollar Getaways" are featured in the travel section of the August issue of Town & Country magazine and two may be of interest to Hawaii residents. Lanai Island, which Oracle co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison bought, is noted for injecting "glamour" into its two Four Seasons hotels, "especially the one at Manele Bay (the site of Bill Gates‘ wedding), which now has a Nobu (restaurant) and Mercedes fleet." Rooms start at $479 and plans for a third resort have been approved, the mag says. Local boy and Punahou grad Steve Case, the AOL co-founder, and his wife, Jean, are recognized for improving the Miraval Resort and Spa. They are majority owners for the Tucson, Ariz., property. Prices there start at $375 per person, double occupancy. The third getaway mentioned is Richard Branson‘s private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. A stay for two goes for $26,000 a week. Couldn’t find any local angle there, but two out of three ain’t bad. …

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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.