Chicago's rich and famous share their pet names
They may be public figures, but when it comes down to it, there's very little we really know about them. That's why pet names have such power. Used between loved ones, they're the basis of the secret language of intimacy. And when they're revealed to outsiders, it's an insightful glimpse into the men -- and women -- behind the myths.
Even if Albert Einstein did discover the theory of relativity, it's more fascinating to learn that he called his first wife "little witch." Ronald Reagan was the leader of the free world, but behind closed doors at the White House he called Nancy "Mommie." And it was when Diana found out that Charles and Camilla called each other "Fred" and "Gladys" that she realized she didn't have a chance.
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times file)
We asked prominent Chicagoans to share their terms of endearment with us. So read on, Poodles. ...
They collaborate in both their personal and professional lives. Because she's his go-to producing partner, he calls her "Li'l Pard." She sticks to the Western theme by calling him "Bronco Billy."
His name is on signs all over the Chicago area, but he responds to something much simpler at home: "Honey." He calls Cheryl "Schatzi," German for "sweetheart" or "little treasure."
She's been calling him "Tiger" since before anyone ever heard of Tiger Woods. "I'm sure there is a great story that goes along with why she calls me that, but I just don't remember anymore," he says.
Giuliana calls him "Billy R" and explains, "The nicknames we have for one another are certainly not your traditional mushy pet names. Billy sounds much younger and less formal to me than Bill. And the 'R' has a great ring to it and a cool, younger feel to the name. That's how I see him. Not as your typical stiff businessman. In his suit, Bill is Bill. Once he sheds his suit and throws on his sweats, sneakers and T-shirt, he becomes Billy R."
Bill: "My friends used to have a good laugh when they would overhear me referring to Giuliana as 'G-Money.' They didn't understand how a sophisticated television journalist born in Italy would have a nickname fit for a gangster. And then they saw her car! Giuliana's car -- make that her 'baby,' as she refers to it -- is a pimped-out, blinged-out, huge black Cadillac Escalade, with tinted windows and 22-inch rims -- 22 Momo rims, to be exact.
"It's the type of car that you are scared to pull up to at a red light, fearing there's a gangster in the driver's seat staring you down. Instead, what you find is the chic and elegant ... G-Money."
"My wife calls me Pancho," says Javier. "She is my Jewish gringa wife, so it's always funny to hear her call me Pancho. I got the name growing up. We can be in a crowded store or somewhere and she'll call out 'Pancho!' and everyone will turn around to see who said that. I call her Frida -- like Frida Kahlo. She asked me if I did that because of her art, and I told her no, it's because of your eyebrows. She threatened to call me Diego after Diego Rivera [Kahlo's longtime lover]. Unfortunately, he's not that attractive."
The names for his Lettuce Entertain You eateries are always creative, but home life is a different story. "She calls me Richard," says Rich. "Always has. Sometimes I call her 'honey.' "
"I call her the Boss," says John.
"Dennis calls me 'Babe' or 'Honey Do,' " says Suzanne. "Sometimes I call him 'Bozo Brain' because he likes to imitate Bozo."
"Given how long we've been married, there has been a lot of name calling in our relationship," jokes Phil. "But the prevailing mutual term of endearment is 'Babe.' "
"I call Jimmy 'Daddy' a lot since the girls were born," says Gale. "We also call him 'the soda sommelier' since he has a whole matching thing with sodas and what food they go with."
If the formidable goalkeeper goes by a pet name at home, he's keeping it to himself. But he does get a kick out of calling his wife Nik-Nak.