I want to tell you about a remarkable woman.
Marny Lombard taught me everything I know about the world of
magazines and AP Style. Together we navigated weighty and gentle topics. She
mastered the art of the interview and wanted me to do the same.
She took a big risk with me – I studied education, not
journalism. I knew little of AP style, much less of narrative story structure.
But she saw potential and she believed in me.
Marny also mothered me. She guided me through some of the
messy moments of college. She knew of my struggles. She always wanted me to
grow; she still wants me to grow. Like mothers do, she held my hand for a
while; then let me go with the understanding that she would always be there.
She always is.
I learned much about love, life and the workplace in my two
years with Marny. I worked through prideful moments and embarrassing journalism
errors. She saw me through a breakup or two, the loss of my grandmother and a
challenging school schedule. I had her red pen to continually put me back on
the right path.
Marny’s only son, Sam, passed away two weeks ago. He knew
adventure and he loved snowmobiling. He regularly colored his hair pink and he had an affinity for pink duct tape. Sam studied architecture and he flew a
pirate flag atop his little brown truck. He always chose popsicles over beer. And
Sam loved his mom.
As the stories emerge, it is clear Sam taught many of his
friends the virtues of kindness, humility and non-judgment, virtues he undoubtedly
learned from Marny.
I had but a small fraction of Marny’s time; Sam was her
world. If she extended such kindness to me, I can only imagine the depth of
love and support she showed Sam over the last 22 years.
Thank you, Sam, for sharing your mom with me. You have the
best mom. She will miss you. We will all miss you.
"Always offer
more than the necessary kindness, for you never know what battles others
fight"
– in memory of Sam
