Today is the wake and tomorrow is the funeral for a lady you almost certainly don’t know personally. She wasn’t a big star. She wasn’t famous. She did have quite a few friends and I’m grateful to have been one of them.
Beverly Joy Brennan and I worked together at a radio station in the Chicago suburbs from 1980 to 1982. That’s when our friendship began. It continued in the next several years when she was working at a boutique advertising agency in Chicago. She hired me several times for commercial campaigns, giving me my first professional commercial sessions.
In the years that followed, after I’d moved away from Chicago, we corresponded, writing letters to one another until the Internet grew. Then emails. A phone call now and then. Sometimes when I was in Chicago or she was in whatever city I was living in at the time we would get together for an in-person visit. I didn’t know it at the time, but the final one of those was last summer.
Bev was 3 years younger than me. It’s quite startling when someone younger than you dies. More significant of course, it’s really startling when someone you’ve known for such a long time dies.
She did have quite a few friends. There were also those not so fond of her, because Bev was a bright, articulate woman who wasn’t afraid to say what she thought. Not everyone agreed with her. But, her faith, her politics, her home, her family and her friends were all deeply held values.
One of my fondest memories was when my wife Cinda and I sang at her wedding. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful ceremony. I’m glad we were able to be a part of it.
Bev also had one of the best marketing minds I’ve known. I’m going to miss being able to call or email to ask for her thoughts and insights.
Rest in peace, dear Beverly. I pray for the peace that passes understanding to cover your family in the days ahead.
Bob,
That’s a very sweet remembrance of your friend.
I’m very sorry for your loss.
Best always,
— Peter
I’m sorry for your loss, Bob.
Beautiful statements here about someone who must have been a very beautiful person. May she rest in peace. Prayers going out to her family and friends.
Warm Regards,
Scooter
Bob,
Most of us in the business remember clearly the day Don LaFontaine died. He was anonymous for most of his life until the Geico ‘In a world’ TV spot. So, even those NOT in the biz got to know who he was.
It is really nice to see that even those of us who don’t get much notoriety in the voice community do indeed make a difference to those we have work with over the years. I agree, Bob, you really start to think hard about your own mortality when some you know that is your junior passes.
I only hope that when my time comes that someone will think of me in the way you are thinking about your friend and colleague today.
It’s comforting to know that while we don’t often realize the impact we have on other peoples lives, they do.
Prayers for you and Beverly’s family,
Greg
My condolences, Bob. Losing a friend is always hard. Makes us painfully aware of how much our friends mean to us. Friends and family are, in the end, what it’s really all about.
Best regards,
Robin