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August 2, 2005
Happy Birthday to a Little Sister
So you are passing a major threshold on Thursday. You would rather not call attention to yourself on this special day. That is exactly in keeping with your approach to life. Give to others, expect nothing for yourself. Sorry, but your older brother wants to celebrate your birthday with a few stories about Renee Edelman.
You were born the middle child, between two boisterous boys. You were a tomboy, the ever-reliable goalie in our alley soccer games, the tough little member of the Gashouse Gang, willing to mix it up in snowball fights with the Bateman School ruffians. You were the secret weapon in our annual Thanksgiving Day football game with the hated cousins from Racine, who could not adjust to the idea that a girl could be such a reliable receiver!
You have beaten back several medical challenges, from AB blood incompatibility at birth to roseola to rheumatic fever. Your incredibly positive attitude was never more evident than during your enforced one year home confinement in third grade while your heart recovered from rheumatic fever. John and I slipped notes under the door and gave you daily updates on social activities. We even made sure you had the TV set in your room so you could watch the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, followed by your adored Topo Gigio, the little Italian mouse.
You brought class and intellect to our family. You actually were interested in the paintings when we went to the Art Institute in Chicago. You excelled in French and helped us to return safely when the crazy auto mechanic absconded with the three kids on a merry ride around Versailles when our dad did not know how to use the stick shift car with a choke. You were known at Chicago Latin School as the smartest kid in the class.
You were a pioneer in coeducation at Exeter and Yale. You were famous at Exeter for "the spray of Renee," the perfumed trail that had high school boys high on life. Your photographic work on student yearbook, the PEAN, assured that the 1972 and 1973 editions were far superior to previous years. As our paths diverged in college, you held court with lacrosse players, grad students in architecture and members of the sailing team.
You have been devoted to the media business ever since you graduated from Columbia Journalism School in the early 80s. You were a successful working journalist at the Daily News, then pursued your craft at trade magazines and suburban papers. Your closest friends are journalists, such as David Kirkpatrick, Mike Kandell and Dennis Kneale.
You are a great contributor to the growth of our family PR firm. Your work on such clients as Veritas, Symbol, Canon, Adobe, Oracle, Avaya and others has firmly established you as the premier advisor on business media for technology companies. Your instincts, integrity and incredible work ethic make you a star.
Your warmth and unstinting involvement with my three children has made you the favorite aunt. In fact your periodic sneaking of candy and "low-fat" ice cream into the house has earned you the moniker "Aunt Sugar". You have taught my childen to embrace the Internet and to be open to all things technological. You have also been a devoted daughter to your parents, Dan and Ruth, going home for every Jewish holiday, making sure that you are always in touch.
So happy birthday, Renee. Enjoy yourself on Thursday. As one who has been over that mountain and is now on the other side, rest assured you will wake up on August 5 the same person. You are treasured by your family, your friends, your colleagues and your clients. Love from your big brother.
Posted by Edelman at August 2, 2005 10:37 AM
Comments
Richard, my big brother,
I am touched beyond belief by your birthday message. I will always cherish it.
You're right: I have served as your rear-guard--listening, loyal and behind-the-scenes. I learned at your side as goalie in our soccer games, catcher in softball and center hiking the football to you as QB.
You lead as "Master and Commander." Our younger brother, John, 47, your cohort, guards the flank. You look far into the future, and then boldly set forth, with intellect, humor, courage and a will to win.
You devour history books from the Civil War and World War II to learn strategy. Winston Churchill is one of your heroes. (After all, your full name is Richard Winston Edelman.) On your 50th birthday, June 15, 2004, I quoted Churchill's famous speech to the House of Commons, June 4, 1940, after the British skillfully evacuated the beaches of Dunkirk. He said, "...we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender..."
In this same spirit, as my big brother, you helped me brave the rough waters at Exeter--the first year of boarding girls, 80 girls and 800 boys. Exeter changed my life for the better. You gave me important advice when I asked you for some help when I was writing a history paper: "Figure it out yourself." After you graduated, John joined me at Exeter, and he learned compassion for others and also strength.
Richard, I salute you as devoted father, husband, son, brother--and our fearless leader at Edelman--with your 2,000-strong far-flung advisors and teammates, who too are "pioneer thinkers."
Our father, Dan, considers you a "brother," as he admires you, and you talk every day. He has mentored you, and you share his creativity, skills as a communicator and passion to find new frontiers. You talk frequently also to our mother, Ruth, who herself, like Churchill, says, "Never Give In, Never, Never, Never." You endearingly greet her when she phones you, "Hi, Doll."
A special toast also to your foursome--your wife, Roz, and children, Margot, Tory and Amanda. Your children have inherited your energy, curiosity and daring.
As you and I say, after we spar, "Peace" and a high five. Love and a smile, Renee
Posted by: Renee Edelman at August 2, 2005 3:18 PM
Renee,
Sincere congratulations with your birthday from the Silicon Valley office! It is a great pleasure to work with you and we always wish you best.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Arseny Tseytlin at August 2, 2005 10:22 PM
Remarks about Renee
on her Special
Birth Day
* * *
What can you say, about Renee,
who stays at the office long past the end of the day.* * *
A warm, wacky, workhorse whose favorite feast,
is a dinner with friends at Cafe des Artiste * * *
She will network here and there like a bee,
A constant companion to digerati.* * *
Reading and writing with a surgeon's eye,
Revising and rewriting so many times you'll cry!* * *
She founded a team,
called the New Media Group,
To leverage the talents of a discarded troupe* * *
From technology, consumer and corporate PR,
We fused our skills and hoped to go far* * *
Recruited, was I, to be her lieutenant,
And surf the internet 'cause other didn't get it.
Cast-offs, we sat on a floor called 16,
In jeans and in sneakers we made a great team* * *
I worked with her closely for many a year,
building a business that others did fear* * *
For days and for nights, we toiled online.
Clicking and dragging on Richard's IT dime* * *
Our reputation grew, and others soon new,
that Renee was the secret ingredient who,
could phone The Industry Standard crew.* * *
She became the Queen of a growing hive,
Of client that who sometimes didn't survive.* * *
But looking back now, I have nothing but respect.
For a women and friend who never did neglect,
A kind word or a moment when work came second,
And everything said was off the record.* * *
On your special day,I'll proudly say,
There's no more wonderful PR person, nay
Whose name means as much to me,
As Renee.* * *
Posted by: Bennett Kleinberg at August 4, 2005 12:57 PM
Renee,
It is such a pleasure working with you. Richard's compliments about your integrity and work ethic are well deserved: you are a role model and mentor to many on the 33rd floor. I can picture the determined little girl he describes, you've grown up to be a valued colleague who never gives up on her clients. I offer you most heartfelt congratulations on your milestone birthday.
Posted by: Carey Dearnley at August 4, 2005 1:17 PM
Renee,
I hope you had a wonderful birthday. Thank you for all of your hard work on VERITAS' behalf. You made an impact.
Marlena
Posted by: Marlena Fernandez Berkowitz at August 10, 2005 11:57 PM
Renee,
we've lost touch the past few years and I regret that. I often think of you, how you helped me grow as a PR pro and those late-night dinners at "Grandma's"! I echo *everything* Bennett says in the above! And Happy Belated Birthday. I'm looking you up the next time I'm in NYC!
Posted by: Dain Percifield at August 16, 2005 12:19 AM
My dear friend, Renee, what lovely words your brother wrote about you for your birthday. You are a wonderful remarkable person and dear friend. Here's to celebrating many more!
Posted by: Tery Spataro at September 1, 2005 2:49 PM