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Brendan, my friend, today, the running joke finally comes to an end. Over the last several years, you would say “this is my last special issue.” But you always seemed to come back for another, as well as the next one after that. I was waiting for you to throw out that famous Roger Murtaugh line from the “Lethal Weapon” movies … “I am getting too old for this …”
Well, after this year’s Spring Guide, it seems you finally meant it. I finally heard the word “retirement” come out of your mouth. After 39 years and 2,000-plus issues, I would say you’ve earned the right to say farewell to the place that has been your home away from home over the nearly past four decades. There will be no more fighting for premium parking spots in front of the office (much appreciated), walking to Good Flavor to restock your beverage supply or staying late on Tuesday nights.
Boy, have times changed since you’ve started. It seemed like it wasn’t all that long ago that you would be sitting in the production department pasting the weekly edit pages and ads to the boards. On Wednesdays, a gentleman who strikingly resembled Santa’s twin brother would be sitting in the corner ready to drive the finished product to the printer. When the times changed to the Internet age, you didn’t lose your award-winning touch. Each week, the issue would start as a blank canvas with your color palate, text, fonts and images all off to the side. Just like the great Salvador Dali or Paul Gauguin, every Thursday, you delivered an eye-catching product that the readers couldn’t wait to see.
When it came time to redesign the product like a fresh coat of paint on a house, it wasn’t about making subtle changes. This was a several-months-in-work process that included several revisions until the production maestro finally had the look that he was willing to share with the readers. I believe there was one editor that would be an annoying nudge asking “when is it going to be ready?”
Looking back, you weren’t just the art director. If promotional material needed to be done for a special event or issue, you took on the additional task without hesitation. If a new logo or icon needed to be designed for the website, not only did you do it, but you put a lot of thought into the effort. There was even an occasion in which you designed ads in the middle of the night. Thanks for the occasional input with headlines.
Occasionally, we would sit back and take our mind off work. Some days we would have enjoyable, sometimes humorous conversations about stuff that had absolutely nothing to do about work. Some days the conversation took a morbid tone of “did you hear who died?” while other days you would bypass the typical greeting with a “how was the soup?” Other times we would chat it up about vacation plans or family.
As of today, I look over to your corner of the office and find it hard to believe that I am not going to see you next week. I will no longer be getting those phone calls from the expressway to turn off the space heater underneath your desk. (Are you sure you don’t want it as a parting gift?)
Brendan, my friend, you are leaving a mark on this company that I don’t think will ever be matched. You’re a legend.
Enjoy retirement!
Contact Editor Bill Gelman at bgelman@southphillyreview.com or ext. 121.
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