On the 10th of July, one of my favorite clients and a friend passed away. He lived a rich and varied life, leaving an indelible impression on the people he met. Although our connection was brief, it was extremely meaningful to me.
Any business meetings conducted included tea and listening to the most amazing stories. Gerald L’Ange, a journalist and editor of international renown, had the art of making the mundane sound interesting and the interesting profound.
Time with Gerald brought back fond memories of working in a retirement home in Cambridge in my early twenties. There, I was blessed to discover, at a young age, the treasure of wisdom and the time and interest to share this with others by the elders of communities.
Gerald was both generous and fair, had a wicked sense of humor, and never 'looked down' on others. I am going to miss him sorely. I have the privilege of several clients in retirement and appreciate the clear evidence of the impact of having lived in a time when life was slower, involved more face-to-face communication than virtual, and was more gracious in the way people learned to treat others.
Hearing the eulogy of Gerald’s son, Nick, made me aware that my impression of Gerald was only skin deep. His commitment to, love for, and willingness to invest time in his relationships were clear and brought tears to many eyes.
Gerald was one of those rarities – the short time of knowing him is something that I will remember and treasure for the rest of my life – and he lives on like this, in the memory of those whose lives he touched and those who loved him.
His gift with words was like magic – he would touch a pen like a wand on water, and images would be reflected with his colorful and vivid imagery.
The world is richer for Gerald having walked it and poorer for his passing. I dedicate this column to Gerald and his family."