Our readers are feeling a lot of love for Paul Newman these days, and the tributes keep rolling in. We've already published several, but here are a few more letters describing personal encounters with the late screen legend:

MY CHILD HAD THE JOY of attending The Hole in the Wall Gang camp in Connecticut for many summers. One weekend, as we were dropping our child off, another mom said to me, "Let's go down to the theater. Paul is here." I responded that Paul never came to camp on drop-off or pick-up days. She told me that they were filming a camp promo and he was in it.

We snuck past the sign that announced the theater was closed and walked in. A crew was setting up, so we sat down to wait. Suddenly from the stage we heard that unmistakable voice: "Let's get this thing rolling." There was Paul Newman, bigger than life.

My friend took off down the aisle, and I timidly followed her. We got the chance to speak with Mr. Newman and have our picture taken with him. He was very gracious and friendly. I was able to personally thank a man who made my child's life so much brighter. He responded with true humility.

MARY M. FITZPATRICK

Concord

QUITE A FEW YEARS BACK, a friend and I attended a meet-the-candidate gathering at the Methodist Church in Contoocook. I am sure our main reason for attending was to meet McBlueEyes and not the candidate.

When we got our chance to shake his hand, we asked him for his autograph. True to form, Mr. Newman said he was there to show his support for the candidate and not to sign autographs, confirming the down-to-earth person behind the superstar that he was.

SUE MITCHELL

Contoocook

WHEN I WAS KID, I lived in Weston, Conn., the next town over from Westport, where Paul Newman lived. Every day our school bus would drive in front of Paul's house, and since the bus sat high, the kids would all try to peer over the 12-foot-high wall around his property.

One morning the gates were opened, and sure enough, there he was walking down the driveway. As the school bus drove by, he had the decency to wave to us. As a kid I thought it was cool, but as an adult it doesn't surprise me, knowing of his work with children and charities. He was a decent man.

GLENN MOIR

Concord

Tell us about that time you met a big celebrity, perhaps someone other than Paul Newman. Include a photo, if you have one. Send an e-mail to hschulz@cmonitor.com, or drop a note to the Monitor newsroom, Box 1177, Concord, 03302. Include your name and town.