WIFE JILTED FOR COMANECI SELLS TALE ON TALK SHOWS
Ft. Lauderdale News & Sun-Sentinel.
Published: Wednesday, December 13, 1989
Section: NEWS
Page: 10

Former Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci may have stolen her husband, but Maria Panait is attempting to steal the hearts of America as she sobs her way through the television talk-show circuit and tries to earn enough money to buy Christmas presents for her four young children.

``We are trying to get Maria money any way we can at this point,`` said her attorney, Robert Collins. ``We wouldn`t ordinarily do something like this, but this is a woman that is very young with four little children who has absolutely no means of support.`` The Panaits` children are 2 through 6 years old.

``It`s Christmas and she has nothing,`` Collins said.

The Ft. Lauderdale attorney said Panait, 25, has been left penniless by her husband, Constantin Panait, 36, a roofer from Hallandale, Fla., who entered the limelight after he arrived in New York City Dec. 1 on Comaneci`s arm.

Comaneci, 28, escaped from Romania on Nov. 28, accompanied by Panait and seven others.

Maria Panait has been all over local TV, has struck a deal to sell her story and is negotiating for an appearance on ABC-TV`s ``Sally Jessy Raphael Show`` in New York City, Collins said.

The fuss is for such insights as: ``When I saw (Comaneci) on television wearing my husband`s ring and necklace, I cried all day.``

Producers for Geraldo Rivera said the talk-show host was not interested in the scorned wife, but rather in the legendary gymnast who caused all the commotion.

But Collins said his client won`t be dissuaded.

``We are trying to create a product here so that Maria can earn an income,`` he said. ``Constantin basically kept her barefoot and pregnant all these years while he earned the money as a roofer. Maria graduated from high school, and she has no skills.``