In more than 50 years in business, I have I never met anyone like Santos Rich. Rich, who referred to me as his “partner” was a part of the seller, a part manager, a bon vivant part and a teacher of a part – and all the interesting parts.
I first met Rich immediately after Primedia had bought Registered Representative MagazineA publication whose subscribers were financial advisers. Management decided to decide rich on his accusation as its publisher. I was treating investor relationships for Primedia, and came to my responsibility to show why we had bought this property. Soon a few years ago with really bold under the supervision of Rich's publication, I was transferred to operations and became Rich chief. Then we sold one or two time and appeared as part of computing
Our relationship over more than a decade became one of the real partners. We learned from each other, pushed each other and wrote one another. We were both sitting at a local Chelsea bar when we were music for this new term, wealth management. Rich went to the curve for a smoke. I ordered two more martyrs – shocked, not shocked – and looked at “Wealthmanagement.com” in my Blackberry. We bought the URL for $ 12 the next day, and for a period of time, Rep.whose name was morphuar became the basis for wealthmanagement.com. The rest is, good, story.
Rich was a Dapper friend who sports white shirts with striped white shirts with yellow ties on your face. His voice flourished and his dictation was impeccable. He had a ability to make things happen that no one else could imagine. There was a time when I reached a Marriott property in Las Vegas for a commercial show. The man at the table said there was no reservation for me. Rich happened to walk in the lobby (directly from the pool) and without hubbub. He asked the young man at the table if he knew whose portrait was behind him. The man returned and identified Mr. Marriott. Rich immediately said how he would call his friend Willard Marriott, the man in the picture, if his “forgiveness” did not get a room immediately. I have a suite. Of course, Willard had died more than 25 years.
There was also the moment when someone did not catch a press on the cover of Rep. The press running had just begun. Rich got on the phone and, in his best voice Perry White, told the printer, “Stop prints.” The building was shocked and Rich said, “I've always wanted to say that.”
All the time of entertainment aside, Rich was a fantastic brand guardian. He trained salesmen, always respected journalists and advertisers and listened to the readers carefully.
We mourn for the loss of Rich, who recently fell into leukemia and feel deep for his family, especially his widow, Vicki and his daughter, Teddi Lane.
The rich, my forgiveness, has missed you.