Fans stop to honor Robin Williams with standing ovation

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- A'Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa is generally a quiet place where people keep to themselves, but Monday afternoon was the exception.

As the time approached 1 p.m., Louis Ekrem was at the cafe, along with a small crowd, counting down the minutes to give Robin Williams a standing ovation.

Ekrem was part of a worldwide effort promoting the event on Facebook, started by Kathy Vela Schwartzle of Castro Valley. By Monday, the page had 29,000 followers. The hope, to get people to pause for one minute, during the same minute, wherever they were, and give a standing ovation of thanks to Williams.

A'Roma Roasters was just one corner of the world where people celebrated Robin Williams.

At the Mrs. Doubtfire house on Broadway and Steiner streets, crowds also appeared at 1 p.m. to celebrate Williams. And an even bigger crowd turned up in Union Square.

Meanwhile back in Santa Rosa, Jackie Hatcher joined in. He remembers being in the hospital on Chiristmas Eve, 16 years ago and how Robin Williams came to visit.

"I'm glad to see all these people showing him love," Hatcher said.

So if you believe in a heaven, maybe you can see it now -- Robin Williams at the pearly gates, taking a bow.