I don't really know how to explain this so I'm hoping people get what I mean. Like a fondness for a historical figure even though they aren't connected to you?
For me it's Disney lyricist Howard Ashman. I am not even a massive Disney fan but when I hear songs he wrote I feel like a connection as if it was my friend who wrote it and when he's mentioned in podcasts I get a little thrill like they've mentioned a friend!
Frankly, it all sounds mad written down!