Dennis McCrory

Stan Golomb was my friend. He was also my mentor. A brilliant guy who taught me more about marketing then the many books and college courses I’ve had on the subject. I saw in Stan age and wisdom. And Stan took pleasure in my youth and ambition.

Stan was one of those larger-than-life guys who brought out the best in people by encouraging them to be more than they ever were before. And most people responded by performing beyond what they themselves thought possible.

Although the length of our friendship only accounted for a brief period of Stan’s long and eventful life, the test of any friendship is not in the amount of time spent together, but in the use we make of that time. For me, every moment spent with Stan was a moment to be enjoyed and treasured.

During the time we knew each other, there were long periods when we might not see each other. But when we would meet again, it was as if we hadn’t been apart for a day. His warmth, his laughter, his ability to make everyone around him feel comfortable made me feel as though we were never really apart.

Nine years ago, almost to the day, Stan was in New Orleans attending our state convention at my urging, when in the middle of the night I had to call his room to tell him that I was leaving the hotel, my father had just died. Stan was the only person, outside of my immediate family, that I contacted that night. The next day, he announced to the convention why I had disappeared.

Now, Stan has disappeared. And I’m left feeling as though I’ve lost a second father.

I once read that, “In life, only three things are real: God, human folly, and laughter. And, since the first two are beyond our comprehension, we must do what we can with the third.”

If ever a man made the most of life and laughter, it was Stan. We always laughed whenever we shared a meal, a drink, or even a phone conversation. No one can ask for more than knowing a few people with whom we share a common bond, a matching sense of humor.

During the last few days before he died, Stan, being the generous man that he was, gave away many of his personal possessions to friends and relatives.

When asked, I said; “There was one thing he had that I had always admired and would treasure forever.

He said; “Sure. Whatever it is, it’s yours.”

“Your handicapped parking permit,” I said.

We both enjoyed a final laugh together.

Dennis McCrory works with The Golomb Group which provides direct mail and marketing services for drycleaners. They also produce the following book and video packages:

• “The Caplan Method of Stain Removal”

• “The Caplan Method of Shirt Laundering and Finishing,”

• Also available is McCrory’s “Pre-employment Screening Kit.”

To order any of these, call The Golomb Group, (800) 679-5856.

You can e-mail Dennis at dennismccrory@golombgroup.com