Travoltas' Fla. Town Grieves With Family

Small town gives celebs their space
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 7, 2009 9:32 AM CST
Travoltas' Fla. Town Grieves With Family
Horses feed in front of the Jumbolair Aviation Estates clubhouse near Ocala, Fla. where actor John Travolta has a home.    (Phil Sandlin)

The small central Florida town of Ocala is about as far from Hollywood as you can get. Maybe that's why actor John Travolta moved his family here. The social scene revolves around ranchers' soirees, and mobile home parks, peanut farms, and moss-covered oak trees dot the landscape. Now, with the death of their 16-year-old son, Jett, this is where the Travoltas have come to grieve.

On Monday night, Travolta and wife Kelly Preston flew back to Ocala. The city is welcoming them quietly and respectfully. Mayor Randy Ewers said the city sent the Travolta family condolences and would give them space and privacy. "They're fantastic people, really family oriented," Ewers said. "We want to respect their privacy as much as possible." Said a waitress at a local restaurant: "Nobody bothers him here. We let him have his peace."
(More John Travolta stories.)

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