Remembering Larry…
By Maria Weiskott, Editor-in-chief -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 11/1/2006
As I scrolled through my contact list today to send out one of those inane email jokes, I passed Larry Rotondi's address; a renewed sadness swept over me.
Larry was buried last month after too short a life.
I first crossed paths with Larry over 20 years ago when I took a position at Geyer-McAllister Publications, which at the time owned Gifts & Decorative Accessories. I was editor for a different book, but Larry and I often passed time in conversation. He wasn't the kind of guy to let anybody off the hook with a smile, a wave and a “How you doin?” — the official greeting proffered by New Jersey's sanctum sanctorum.
Our different industries aside, Larry and I mostly talked about our kids. Odd as it may seem, not that many people in the publishing biz have children. We were two of the few parents.
Through the years, there were a lot of high points in our conversations: Larry's daughter Gabbie's wedding — I can still see that magnificent father/bride picture, which was the focal point in his office; and Jenna's athletic prowess on the diamond — more pictures for the office.
If we weren't talking about our kids or spouses (Larry's liquid blue eyes always glowed especially bright when he talked about his “bride” Jamie), we talked about the Yankees. We were both such die-hard fans that we even spent time second-guessing Steinbrenner in the off season.
Eventually, our careers took us to different companies. I was fortunate enough, however, to meet up with Larry again here at Reed Business Information, where he was going on year six as publisher of G&DA and I was beginning a tenure as editor of our sister magazine, Playthings.
And when we met up again, it was like we hadn't missed a beat! Only this time around, Larry and I had even more to talk about, and more opportunity to do it as our offices were near to each other. We were now in the grandparent game. You can only imagine! In the last emails we traded, the score was four to three, with me up one, although Larry was looking forward to evening the score.
For now, I just can't bring myself to delete Larry's information from my contact list — even though I know I'll never send him another email.
A look back at Larry Rotondi's career will appear in the December issue of Gifts & Decorative Accessories. Readers are invited to send their memories of Larry to mweiskott@reedbusiness.com.
