When I read of the death of Geoffrey Beene on Sept. 28, I heaved a heavy sigh.

Another great designer is gone, at the age of 77.

There was a time when the innovative Beene was the most prestigious designer in the United States, and he was recognized all over the world.

In Barbara Walz's book "The Fashion Makers," which gives bios and great candid photos of 50 talents up to 1978, Beene, with his large dark-rimmed glasses, appears on the cover.

How I marveled at his shows. He posed his models at times like pieces of sculpture, often presenting collections in a theater setting rather than a showroom.

As I thought about the loss -- and the loss of the great fashion photographer Richard Avedon on Oct. 1 -- I also thought about the Pittsburgh connection to this late fashion great. There is one, of course.

Tasha Bauer Polizzi was one of the busiest and best of this city's models in the '60s. She actually supported herself as a model, which was rare at the time, considering there was no models' union and, as I recall, she would make under $10 to pose for the newspaper -- if we used her picture.

Her mother, Ginger, and brother, Ray, still reside in Brentwood.

I reached her as she was traveling from her home in Massachusetts to Boston and Chicago. We hadn't talked for many years.

But reminiscing took over our conversation. She said her life changed in 1968 because of Beene.

Tasha, then known as Sandy, accompanied a friend who wanted to be a model to New York, just for fun.

One of the showrooms they went to, by appointment, was that of Beene. Her friend had the appointment, but it was Tasha whom the designer noticed.

"Would you mind trying on one of my dresses?" he asked in his quiet, Southern gentlemanly way.

"I recall feeling that this seemed right," says Tasha. Her friend, she says, showed no jealousy and encouraged her.

Although she had always been perfectly happy with modeling in Pittsburgh and being with family, that was about to change.

Beene hired her on the spot as his house model. "When can you start?" he asked.

"I saw him on a Friday, came back home to talk to my family, and was headed for New York by Monday. There was no hesitation. It felt right.

"Geoffrey had come to Pittsburgh shortly after he won his first Coty [the fashion world's Oscar at the time], and I had worn his clothes in shows in Pittsburgh, so I knew his reputation. And he had a great sense of humor."

Beene was also one of the first major designers to come here to be saluted at Horne's Symphony Gala, along with Oscar de la Renta and Donald Brooks.

She felt better when, after she was hired, an up-and-coming designer, Gayle Kirkpatrick, whose business Beene supported, hired her model friend.

Beene was behind another new designer at the time, Leo Narducci. We were remembering many names from those early days. Tasha wondered if I remembered Beene Bag, the less expensive sportswear line that proved to be an instant success in the early '70s.

Michael Vollbracht, now designing the Bill Blass line, was the co-designer.

Beene admired Tasha's look and size (she was extremely slim, and all his samples were to her measurements), and the only thing he preferred was that she pull her hair back into a French twist or chignon.

It's the way all his models wore their hair so as not to distract from the clothes, which were almost architectural. Detail was his middle name.

Then one day he looked at his muse, Sandy, and suggested that she change her name.

He said she looked like a Tasha.

"And it felt right again," she says. "I was happy with it. Today, nobody calls me Sandy."

Her last name wasn't necessary after that. Everyone in New York knew who Tasha was.

She remained with Beene for three years as his house, show and fit model.

But it was bound to happen. Other designers wanted to use Tasha in their shows, and she knew she needed to go with an agency if she was to be truly successful.

"I was 22 when I started," she said, "but I knew it was time to move on. I was part of Geoffrey's family more or less, so he wasn't happy when I told him I was leaving. He was hurt, and I understood that. For many years he refused to use me in his shows. But thankfully he later changed his mind."

During my years covering New York fashion collections, Tasha was in just about every show. She was a favorite with designers and among other editors as well as myself.

Ralph Lauren frequently used her in his shows when he was not yet a household word. She was so right for his clothes.

Marriage hadn't been in her plans when she began her work in New York. Then she met Jack Polizzi.

After several years at the top of the heap, she decided to give up modeling to marry and raise her children.

She recalled that Lauren said, "When you are ready, come work for me."

She had two sons, John and Chris, within two years, and then she did indeed join Lauren's booming business as both a designer and executive. She remained there for 10 years.

About 15 years ago, she and her husband moved to Great Barrington, Mass. They had had a summer home there and liked it, especially for the boys.

All that Tasha has learned came full circle a few years ago.

She and her husband now have their own line under the Tasha Polizzi label of womenswear, menswear and home furnishings, working out of a studio in Great Barrington.

Her sons are 22 and 23, just about the same age as their mother when she began her notable career in the fashion world.