In his 1992 book ‘The Way I Was,’ renowned American composer Marvin Hamlisch details the quirky beginnings of how, at the age of 45, he finally met his wife.
In the midst of a self-imposed break from dating, Hamlisch got a call one day in late 1988 from a dear friend in LA. His friend’s housekeeper’s sister worked for a very special and beautiful lady that never goes out, but he needed to meet her.
After a week of phone tag, the two connected. Terre was from Columbus, Ohio and was working for a network in LA. “We talked about everything,” said Hamlisch. “Music, life, spirituality, the differences in our religion, me, her, LA, Ohio.”
The calls got longer, one lasting seven hours from 11pm to 6AM and finally ended only because Marvin needed to catch a plane. Ironically, both didn’t want to date someone in show business. Then, three months into their telephone talkathon, they set a date to finally meet.
Terre was coming to New York. Marvin met her at her hotel wearing an English blue suit and topcoat. When he arrived at her door, there was a handwritten questionnaire taped to the door with three questions: 1) do you think the person behind the door is wonderful? 2) do you think the person behind this door really cares about you? 3) how do you spell my first name?
Marvin answered all three questions correctly, even #3 and before seeing her for the first time said “listen, I just want to ask you one question – it will have a lot to do with our future. Sight unseen, will you marry me?” “Yes.”
On March 6, 1989, Terre and Marvin were married in a private service in New York. Later that spring a formal wedding – for family and friends – was held dockside on the Hudson River. Notable guests included Carly Simon, Ann Margaret, George Segal and Liza Minelli. Roberta Flack sang ‘The first time I ever saw your face.’ They honeymooned in Europe.
In 1951, a seven-year-old Jewish boy was accepted into the Juilliard School pre-college division in New York. In his teens he would write a song that would appear on Liza Minelli’s 1964 debut album. His first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 came when he was 21, which was followed by two Academy Awards for musical scores at 29 and four Grammy Awards a year later.
Marvin Hamlisch became a household name in the U.S.A. in the mid-1970s.
Meanwhile, in 1977, a cute and energetic 21-year-old blonde was hired as a TV news reporter in Columbus at WTVN, channel 6. All three local stations at the time were spending big money on updating their weather radar data equipment. To compete, WTVN soon decided to transition Terre Blair into the station’s weather girl.
She became one of the market’s most recognizable and popular TV personalities while she was here.
Terre was born in Columbus Ohio in 1956. She graduated from North High School in 1973 and Otterbein College in 1977. Terre worked at the college newspaper and was a baton twirler in the marching band.
And, while in college, Terre won the Miss Columbus Day USA beauty pageant.
In 1973, Hamlisch won two Academy Awards for the title song and music in the motion picture ‘The Way We Were.’ He composed the musical score in 1975 for A Chorus Line, a Broadway hit, where he won both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize.
Terre began hosting PM Magazine in Columbus. She reported on community, human interest and lifestyle stories. In 1981, the show decided to transition her to New York.
The move was quite fruitful as work opportunities for her exploded. She progressed through various jobs in the industry working as a correspondent, interviewer, host and producer for major U.S. networks including ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS, though not always based in NYC. She also worked for a time as a correspondent and producer for the Today Show.
In June 1983, ABC Sports hired her as the first female sportscaster for Monday Night Football. She reported from the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. She did in-depth interviews for ABC Wide World of Sports and MNF.
Hamlisch was an enthusiastic supporter of Terre’s career and, to his word, became a family man. The couple would return to Ohio to visit her family often.
“I am so proud to be from Ohio. I couldn’t be prouder,” said Terre. “When people ask me to this day, I think that I’m still that central Ohio girl. My roots and my love for Ohio was shared with Marvin.”
Marvin grew to love Columbus. And Columbus loved him back. In 2009, for the ninth and final time, he volunteered his talents to conduct the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, whose financial difficulties were well documented. In fact, when ‘Picnic with the Pops’ season closed that year, there was uncertainty if the CSO would return in the fall.
Marvin Hamlisch died on Aug 6, 2012, at the age of 68. Terre herself delivered his eulogy.
Hamlisch, in his lifetime, pulled off an incredibly rare feat winning the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) plus a Pulitzer.
In October 2015 Terre helped organize a tribute concert to Marvin with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra that featured pianist Peter Dugan and acclaimed violinist Charles Yang along with Marvin’s former associate conductor. Highlighted were Marvin’s iconic music from A Chorus Line and The Way We Were.
In 2022, Terre bought a unique 1800s converted barn home that was completely renovated in Norwalk, Connecticut, just outside NYC. “The house enveloped me and gave me a warm hug,” she said.
Terre Blair Hamlisch did attend her high school’s fiftieth reunion in Columbus in 2023.
Their love story is truly their own. One was tired of the dating scene but decided to keep putting himself out there. The other refused to settle and was content to wait it out.
In the end, the universe blinked.
Sources: The Supersingles by Adrienne Bosworth and John Maher, Columbus Monthly, June, 1979; People to watch in 1981, Columbus Monthly, Jan 1981; Insider, Columbus Monthly, Aug 1985; Pulse stronger, but PM darker by Robert Tenenbaum, Feb 1979, Columbus Monthly; You know you’re from Columbus, Ohio if.. by Jeff Thompson, July 29, 2024, www.facebook.com; A reclaimed barn in Rowayton offers a fresh start by Alex Stevenson, Sep 1, 2022, www.cottagesgardens.com; Terre Blair, Jan 2026, www.grokipedia.com; Columbus Concerns, Terre Blair interview, WMNI Radio, September 2015, www.youtube.com; Terre Blair and Marvin Hamlisch interview with Carol Luper, WSYX-TV Columbus, www.digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org; Romance by Aleene MacMinn, May 31, 1989, L.A. Times, www.latimes.com; Marvin Hamlisch’s widow is Terre Blair, formerly of WTVN-TV, Aug 9, 2012, www.wvbroadcasting.net; Meet the elite group of 21 celebrities who are EGOT winners by Mehera Bonner, Jan 29, 2026, www.cosmopolitan.com; Curtains close on Columbus Symphony, June 1 2008, www.10tv.com; The Way I Was by Marvin Hamlisch, 1992; Featured picture of Terre is from June 22, 1980 while working as weather girl for WTVN-TV in Columbus.