A queen with a common touch

Thursday, June 3, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

I didn’t know Barbara Greenspun well. But every time I walked away from an encounter with her, I felt as if I had been in the presence of royalty. She was not just the queen of the family, but a duchess of Las Vegas — a benevolent, kind presence who represented the best of the city. I have never heard one person say a bad word about Barbara Greenspun — how many people can you say that about? The lengthiest conversation I ever had with her was when I came to work for the family more than 10 years ago. I had made it past the sons just fine, but I was terrified to meet the matriarch. She couldn’t have been more welcoming, more enthusiastic, even though I had come from the evil empire known as the Review-Journal. I felt embraced, put at ease, soothed. My guess is she made a lot of people feel that way. She will be missed.