Helen Weiss -- PR Maven Extraordinaire

Monday, September 15, 9 p.m.

Helen-istas : Here are the eulogies from Helen's funeral for those of you who couldn't make it or who couldn't hear them. We are missing Bill Landau's. He went from note cards and we'll need to do some transcribing. I am hoping to get a recording posted here as well.

Joyce Armstrong (at left in picture with Milly Cohn):

I first met Helen almost 40 years ago.  It was the early 70's, and I had just taken a job as the first - and only - staff person of the Eastern Missouri affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. 

I needed volunteers.

Even then, Helen was well known in St. Louis - for Fair St. Louis, the Book Fair,  and lots of fun promotions for Famous-Barr.

I was young and optimistic, and I thought she would make a fantastic volunteer.

I didn't know her - but she and Dick were ACLU members - so I called  and asked if we could meet.  She invited me over to their house.  They both had lots of great ideas.  Helen invited me back for dinner.  Dick had another engagement, but Helen fixed us a wonderful steak dinner.

We sat down to dine by candlelight with a good bottle of wine. . . and discovered that neither of us could open it.   Undeterred, we began to map out a plan for raising funds for the ACLU in St. Louis.

Helen became a stalwart of ACLU volunteerism.  She joined our Board.  And she is renowned for chairing the Special Events Committee.  The Committee had a big following - lots of volunteers wanted to be members. . .  WHY...BECAUSE. . . meetings were at Helen's house. . . AND. . . a fabulous dinner was always served.   You could count on a fun, entertaining evening where events really did get planned and carried out.

The Bill of Rights Day celebration was the primary focus of the committee. . . I'm sure many of you have enjoyed lovely evenings celebrating Bill of Rights Day in gracious homes just a few blocks from here.  If there were centerpieces on tables, Helen made it her project to sell them to attendees.  Who could refuse her!

At early ACLU annual meetings, Helen and her loyal Emma would prepare the fried chicken, potato salad and deviled eggs for several hundred because - as Helen said, "It's better than anyone else's."  And it was. 

The unintended consequence - or maybe not - was new blinds for Helen's  kitchen to replace the heavily  grease-coated ones caused by hours of non-stop frying.

Helen was always thinking about ways to raise money for ACLU.  At one point, she looked around her home on Alta Dena and realized that she SHOULD get rid of some "stuff" in her house and basement.  And she thought other ACLU members might also have stuff . . . or even junk.  So why not sell it?

Helen said we needed a big garage for - what else - a garage sale.  We found a big one on Euclid near Laclede and staged a huge "High Tack Sale".   Bands, jugglers, Bob Kramer's Marionettes entertaining everyone - and junk being sold.  Helen made sure everyone was having fun - and we gave away copies of the Bill of Rights with each purchase.

As much as Helen excelled at planning fun events, she was also a passionate civil libertarian.  She served on many other ACLU committees - legislative, disability rights, and race and equality.  And she gave them all her total commitment.  Many of you know or have read. . . that she was fearless in confronting anyone - including the large corporation she worked for - when she saw civil liberties or basic fairness being  threatened.

ACLU honored her with the Leadership in Civil Liberties Award and the Eugene Buder Spirit of Liberty Award for extraordinary dedication to civil liberties through volunteerism.  But no award can fully recognize the dedication and boundless enthusiasm that Helen Weiss brought to civil liberties.  And even though Helen never used e-mail. . . by force of personality, she spread the civil liberties message far and wide.

She attended ACLU Biennial conferences and marched in Jefferson City and Washington in support of reproductive choice. . . and of course, sold sweatshirts on the bus. 

At the first ACLU conference she attended in Boulder, Colorado, she enthusiastically joined our group for a short hike in the mountains. . . carrying her inhaler and wheezing.  She'd never told us she has asthma. . .  She was always a trooper.

About a year ago, I went to Paris with Helen and Jean. . . it was an extraordinary experience that I will cherish forever.

When Frank, my husband, was gravely ill, Helen was a frequent visitor, always with food and good cheer.  One of his caregivers observed, "When Helen enters the room, it lights up like a Christmas tree." 

Helen will forever light up rooms in the hearts of her friends.

Maxine Clark:

Hello. I am Maxine Clark and I am proud to have been a friend and protégé of Helen Weiss. I arrived in St. Louis in 1976 a young, female executive with the May Company with many ideas and much to contribute but very little experience.

The May Company like most businesses had begun to realize that working women presented a huge business opportunity. I was selected to work on how to make the best practices of some of the division's company wide initiatives. I was on a trip to Kaufmann's in Pittsburgh, when I ran into Stanley Goodman the recently retired May CEO. Stanley was excited to hear about this initiative but said the only person you need to meet is Helen Weiss-she is the best there is!

I remember the day I met Helen. I wandered down the back stairs of downtown Famous-Barr through the halls and peeked into the room I was told was her office. I could hear her but I couldn't see her. I turned to the right and there she was - hidden behind a file cabinet bursting with files that had magazine articles, pictures I was dying to touch. There she sat, a figure bigger than life itself. She was strikingly beautiful, dressed not like any female business executive I had ever met - quite honestly, I hadn't met that many so Helen was even more special! Her jewelry, her earrings in particular hinted at the woman she was - colorful, bold, happy and definitely artsy craftsy. 

It was love at first sight. At least I certainly loved her. And I think that when we found out we were both born in early March we really clicked-two passionate Pisces women from two different generations wanting to make a difference in the world.

We all know that Helen has trained many Famous-Barr execs from buyers to CEOs and I am one of them. She taught me all I know about pr and the cosmetics industry. How to make a few thousand dollars look like so much more, how to sell books and cultivate authors, designers and Estee Lauder herself.

She taught me not to fear people in power - particularly men -you just have to make them smile and in the May Company that meant sell a lot of stuff.

She was fearless, irreverent but always respectful and as I look back on it, that is what her  trick was - she was masterful at making the newest designer named Liz Claiborne feel like Coco Chanel -s he gave them the royal Helen treatment and built their confidence until of course they stepped out of line or wouldn't show for an event and then she let them have it.

She did the same for me. I think our first connection was my comfort in her office - I was a kid in a candy store and have always practiced her style of organization. Neither of us believed it was clutter - we were just savoring the memories. Each article, each photo was part of a history of fashion, of hope in a bottle of perfume . Of an author's life.

Helen introduced me to many of the celebrities that visited Famous-Barr but also to the people she loved at Famous- Barr -  like her boss Joan Van de Erve and Eula Fulton and her friend Carol Teldon and a young creative caterer, Julie Colton. She invited me to her home on Alta Dena and introduced me to her fabulous family. Maybe most important she introduced me to St. Louis and what it means to be from St. Louis which neither of us were from, well not officially anyway.

She was the consummate community organizer and she did have actual responsibilities and if she could rope you into her cause, she did. No one was too important or unimportant to Helen - she had a heart and a soul enough for all of St. Louis.

I am privileged to have been one of those people who can say that Helen was my mentor. From sharing birthday celebrations at the White's to ideas how to launch  and make Build-a-Bear Workshop what it is today and just have fun doing it but don't forget to give back. I know for sure that Build-a-Bear would never have come to be if I had not met Helen that fall day in 1976.Bob and I loved Helen as if she was our own mother.

Thank You Dick and Jean  for sharing her with so many of us. Helen, until we meet again, somewhere up there in heaven, you will always be in our hearts. You have left us all so much better off for knowing you and we are forever honored to call you our  friend! Oh, and don't worry Helen about the elections. We will pull it through for you.

Bob Duffy:

Jean Anne and Richard asked me to speak on the subject of their mother as a public relations woman, and that's no problem, and to illustrate I'll describe a couple of my experiences with her in that regard, but to tell you the truth, what I'm really thinking is, 

Who is going make lemon chicken for me?

In 1969, right out of graduate school, unemployed, married, and with a little boy in the house, I saw an ad for a copywriter's job at Famous Barr, and thought well, bingo. Helen Weiss runs the special events department at that store. Her only son, the crown prince, Dickie, was a camper when I was a counselor at Camp Thunderbird. He and his best buddy Michael Lowenbaum used to come to see me when I was a student at Washington U. and living in the exotic house of Landesman in Claverach Park.

Surely, I thought, Mrs. Weiss will give me a job - I was nice to her kid. She and I had a pleasant interview at the downtown Famous, but she dismissed me. "You are overqualified," she said. Protestations that I was merely qualified not over qualified-- not to mention broke -- didn't do any good.

And as I recall that experience, that interview with the pre-eminent public relations woman of our time in St. Louis,the woman who bedazzled us with fireworksand brought us the best of Scandinavia as well as Lana Turner and Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, the woman who also made Johnnys on the Spot socially acceptable ...

As I recall those times with her my thoughts fast forward to the absolutely now, and my question is,

Who will feed us this year after the sun sets on Yom Kippur?

Fast forward from downtown Famous in 1969 to the costume room at the Clayton Store. It is 1973. Finally, after grubbing around in the ad business and not realizing my potential by writing ads for beer, burial garments, savings and loans and tuna fish, I finally got a job writing about fashion for a local newspaper. One of the first declarations I heard on the line was, "It's Helen."

She congratulated me on getting a job at the paper and oh by the way, would I come out to Clayton to interview a dress designer named Donald Brooks? Sure I said. As I was talking to him during the interview, another St. Louis institution, the Mrs. Stanley Goodman, joined us on the little velvet settee. In her gracious and elegant way, Alice put me at my ease and told Donald Brooks how much she admired his work. There was my lede. And Helen, who'd watched all this unfold, said something like, See, I told you so. You didn't need to work at Famous. One week later to the day, the Teamsters struck the paper and all of us were out for what seemed an eternity. So much for being over qualified.

Those are bittersweet memories of this public relations pro doing her job with such confidence, ease and energy, while making the guy from the paper think he was without a doubt the smartest kid at the paper. But that was Helen in her public public relations job, and what I want to know is stuff about the private public relations she managed so magnificently, and questions arise about this such as ....

What are we to do about Rosh Hashanah?

Who will send us amply fed into 5769?

And then, what about Hanukah, the final event what Ellen Futterman calls the Jewish Holiday Trifecta? Who will bring the joy and comfort of dredels and gelt?

Furthermore, come springtime, who will praise my command of Hebrew at the Seder table, and tell me what a nice Jewishcopalian boy I am?

Much of what I have said seems so selfish.

Who will give feed me this, buy me that, flatter and praise me on every appropriate occasion?

Who will throw my 65^th birthday party?

Who?

Besides the top of the head concerns, this question of whom burrows deep into my soul.  Where will I be without her? As I look into this congregation of the devoted to Helen, Hel my guess is we all feel pretty much the same way. So while it may be selfish and frivolous to ask, "Who will bake the cherry pie next year?", it is also entirely appropriate. Helen Weiss our colleague, our fellow traveler, our mother and our Boa, our luminous and loyal friend, subscribed devoutly to a special doctrine, the notion that to those of us to whom much is given, as much as possible should be given away.

Giving was as much a part of her respiration as breathing, and it was that way until early Tuesday, when she died. We, all of us, were beneficiaries, and she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Public relations, in Helen's world, was an exuberant selflessness. It made her, then, now and forever, our own incomparable, unforgettable special event.

Emily and Katharine Weiss (In photo, Helen, Emily, Katharine, Elizabeth and Jean):  

K: Since before we can remember we have been told stories about our grandmother. We have been told about Helen the fashion maven, Helen the social butterfly, Helen the activist, Helen the entertainer and Helen the superhero. We know her as Boa.

Boa was my shopping buddy. If you were going shopping with Boa you knew to clear your calendar because one quick trip to the mall could easily turn into a hostage situation. 

On one particular trip I found myself sitting in a dressing room at Famous Barr surrounded by mounds of clothing that looked as though they came straight out of a rap video. I dialed my Mom's number sobbing. "Mom I am at Famous with Boa and she won't let me leave until I try on every thing in the store."  

E: Saturday night sleepovers at Boa's were the best.  I would wake up early Sunday morning to an amazing pancake breakfast...in a baggie.  We would head over to the beauty parlor where Boa would get her hair done while I ate breakfast and watched while being doted on by all the women in the salon.  If I was lucky I could even get my nails done.

K: Boa was my best customer. Girl Scout cookies, artwork, newspaper subscriptions, if you sold it she bought it.  When it came to my cleaning services I found out at a young age she was the best customer to have. However, cleaning for Boa was never a productive activity, everything you wanted to throw away she would insist on keeping. I soon learned the best way to make money was to dig through the piles until you came upon cash. Anything you found you could keep she told me, just return the 20-dollar bills to me, luckily she never said anything about the 50s.

E: There was never a doubt in my mind that Boa loved me.  I knew this because she told me, a lot, all the time in fact.  "Let me look at you," she would say.  "I love to look at you."  If you ever needed a confidence boost you knew who to call. 

We listened to the stories and knew from a young age that Boa was special.  Everyone knew her.  Shopping was a chore because we couldn't get five feet without running into someone she knew, especially at Famous Barr.  

She left an impression on her community and her grandchildren.  We have heard the Helen stories and we plan to carry on the Boa stories. 

 

Jean and Dick Weiss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 J: I want to talk to you about my mom as a mom and as my best friend.  A friend of mom's and mine, Lucia May, sent me an email Wednesday that captured the essence what I want to say.  "To have known and loved Helen, our lives were all enriched.  But for you to have had her as a mom, you are unspeakably blessed".  How true that is.

Imagine a mom that would let a four year old do dishes.  My mom!  There I was on a chair making a major mess.  At least her dishes were done, even though she had to mop the flooded kitchen. 

This began my love affair with the kitchen and cooking.   And cooking I did for her.  It was my greatest joy to make soup and chocolate cakes for mom.  At least I thought they were for her, but she shared them with all, as was her way.

Then there was the Book Fair.  One of my mom's passions.  I remember picking up books with mom.  My brother and I atop the piles of books in the car and then dumping them through a window to be sorted and priced.  One of my proudest moments of my Book Fair career was actually pricing the books instead of just stacking and sorting.

And then there was blue.  I must have been the only child in grade school, junior high, and high school with a complete wardrobe of blue clothes.  Mom just wanted my blue eyes to shine.  Today I still have an affinity for those blues.

As you all know, mom loved fashion.  My dad and brother did not get it.  Particularly my dad.  He didn't even know how to try, until he discovered bow ties.  Dick was a somewhat better than dad, but still has a way to go.  And without mom, what will happen to him.  Sally you have a new occupation.

On the other hand I loved her style and have done my best to follow in her footsteps.  I just loved shopping with mom.  She was brutally honest about what looked good and what didn't.  Her only flaw in helping me was she usually wanted me to get a bigger size.  She was into loose.  And the best compliment I have ever received is that I look like my mom.

My mom and I were great travel companions.  She fondly called me her Sherpa.  We went on the best trips to Paris (many times), Prague, Berlin, Barcelona, China, Russia, a Solar Eclipse in Budapest, Japan and Hong Kong (where mom tried to learn to use chopsticks to no avail), and every year a trip to New York.  Ellen, Bruce, Patti, JB, mom and I saw the best shows, ate the best food, and boosted the economy with our shopping. 

And then there was Sandy and my 50^th birthday celebration at a spa in New Mexico with our moms.  It took a bit of coaxing and a promise of shopping in Santa Fe to get her to go, but she loved it as she loved just about everything she tried (except maybe email).

And Washington DC for Pro-choice march.  Mom, Amber (my daughter-in-law), and Annalee (mom's great-grandchild) marching in front of the White House.  That was the beginning of an activist legacy for my children and grandchildren.

And I cannot leave out my biggest frustration with my mom - her mess.  I really tried, but I think an early life with my fastidiously neat grandma just programmed her to be the opposite.  No matter how I tried, I just could not keep up with her. I think her love of the media and shopping shaped her house cleaning.  She just filled the place like a newspaper, clothing layer cake.

I remember one time coming home to such a mess that I told her that she would be popping for the Ritz if I could not get into the room.  From then on she would spend days cleaning before I came home (and of course telling everyone that she was afraid of me)!

And she stared. As did my dad.  They both just had to look at Dick and me.  And then Boa added Emily, Elizabeth, and Katharine.   They could never get enough of seeing us grow and change.  I know that they were really proud of anything we accomplished.

It was daunting to have a mother like Helen Weiss.  For a shy little girl, my mom was awesome and different.  She was a working mom.  We really thought that was cool since not many moms did that, but also because she wouldn't be home to keep an eagle eye on us.  We certainly learned to be independent and I am sure that helped shape who we are today.

And she always had sooo.. many friends.  In fact just about everyone she met she would call her friend.  You couldn't walk down the street in any city in the world that she didn't know someone.  And over the past few weeks I have learned about the many people I can call my siblings.  She was like a mom to so many of you and I welcomed sharing her with you all.

I will close with a quote from one of the last emails we read to mom.  It is from Karen Foss and says just about everything there is to say about my mom.  "I recognize now that I felt Helen would always be there, like any beautiful natural attraction like the Grand Canyon or the Rocky Mountains!?!?  Sounds melodramatic I know, but to me she was as steady and awe-inspiring as any of God's creations."

I love you mom.

D:  I am a momma's boy.

I am MY momma's boy.

Also her blogger.

As I read the stories that you sent us in Helen's last days, I learned things about my momma that I hadn't known. And as I read them I kept thinking. I would have done that. I could have done that. I did do that ... just without the lipstick, earrings and mascara. Just without her special flair.

I spent a lot of time with my mom in those last days, probably more time than I had in the whole previous year. I often joked that mom lived three blocks from my house and 600 miles from Jean's, but it was Jean who spent more time with her.

Because who after all wants to be a momma's boy? 

As mom's time drew near an end, we talked about what her funeral might be like. Of course, it had to be a special event. But to be honest with you, she didn't relish talking about it or having much to do with planning it. I'm sure it's because she knew she couldn't be there. The events were special to her only because she could be with the people enjoying them. This is what made her happy.

"You're going to speak aren't you?" she said. And I said I would. "Are you going to talk about my mess?" she asked. I said I would.  

There came a sigh.

"Well, who else is going to speak?" she said.

And so you have heard from them. And now you have to hear from me -- about the mess.

If there was one thing that perhaps stood between me and my momma ... it's the mess. I will not go on at length about the mess because many of you who know her are familiar with it. But for those who aren't let me just say that for the neat and tidy it was a form of pornography.  Not soft core Playboy stuff. Whips and chains, Hustler kind of material. Larry Flynt could play my mom in the movie of her mess.

I found the mess intimidating. And yet it shaped me. And my sister. 

Let me tell you how. Over the years, we saw a woman gather around her the goods she loved, newspapers, dresses, shoes, cosmetics -- and refuse to let them go. The stuff was piled up and kept in no kind of order.

My mother created and lived with this mess... and yet she could emerge from her house and then her condo looking so fine, so well put together. And she was so purposeful. She knew exactly what she wanted to accomplish everyday ... to promote Famous-Barr and Macy's and get them to do nice things for people. Simple as that. Not messy at all.

Now I'm a writer and my sister - well my mom could never tell you exactly what she did - but for the purposes of our discussion she's a manager. A manager in IT. Both of us are in the business, I think, of bringing order out of chaos. In Jean's case, it's clear. She has to deal with numbers and people, reconcile diverging points of view and help drive her company to success. In my case, I have to look at the clutter of details in someone's life and find some meaning in the mess that readers can appreciate.

When I'm at my best as a writer I can do that. It's easy for me because nothing will ever look quite so cluttered as the place where my momma raised me.  

So today as a writer and a storyteller, I can take all the clutter in my mom's world and boil it down to a single word: incomparable.

I love that word. It doesn't mean you are necessarily the best at anything. And it allows for the fact that you can be just awful at some things. It simply means that there is no one like you. One of the things that made Helen incomparable is her clutter. Not just the newspapers, the shoes, the earrings, but her clutter of friends .... Just look at all of you here...

But why are you here? Not because she's messy, but because she is incomparable. I think Debby Silverberg, one of mom's long-ago colleagues, said it best. "Helen was a woman who succeeded because she wasn't afraid to be herself."

You know, writers are given some organizing principles by even greater writers to help us deal with the clutter. One is to recognize the power of three. Mom would like that rule because why have just one when you can buy three?

So my momma took three deep breaths before she left us at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday ...  the third day of the week. Three breaths for the three people who were with her, Sally, Jean and Dick. Three for her dolly girls, Emily, Elizabeth and Katharine. Three for Dave and the Kester kids, Jill, Andy and John. (And I know that's five, but why settle for three when you can have five?) Three for her great-grandbabies, Annalee, William and Sophie. Three for her three thousand closest friends, three for 3 million St. Louisans who saw her fireworks light up the sky. 

You know, we writers are also told that a good story always leaves the reader wanting more. In that sense my momma, your grandma...dolly girls, your dear friend Helen... everybody...She was and will ever be a great story.

I'm proud to be my momma's boy.

 

Thursday, September 11, 5 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you at the services for Helen at 10:30 a.m Friday, at Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman Boulevard at Kingshighway.

Burial will be private. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday at Helen's home, 710 South Hanley Road, Apartment 17B, Clayton, and again after 7 p.m. Saturday at the home.

Some advice about parking. If you arrive early, you'll probably be able to find a space either in the CRC lot or in the parking lot across the street at the Unitarian church. After that, the next best parking is along Kingshighway at meters on either side of the street. After that, you can find spaces in the public parking garage at Euclid and Kingshighway, about a 10 minute walk to CRC. And after that there's a parking lot across from Berger Memorial just east of Euclid on McPherson. Another 10 minute walk.

I'm sharing another great memory of Helen from a co-walker, Jan Rotschild. She's flying in from Washington to be at the service. 

We'll keep running these memories... till we run out... 

Helen was my first real boss. She gave me my first grown up job and taught me everything i needed to know about public relations and how to work with the media. 25 years later I am still quoting Helen just about every day. 

Her generosity is legendary, her hostess skills unmatched, but no one yet has talked about how shocking Helen was in the context of her work at Famous Barr and indeed, for the pappa ship, May Co.   Helen always played by the rules she liked, but the ones she didn't like, well, she found a way to rewrite the rule book. Who else but Helen would have the nerve to walk around the office in her bedroom slippers?  Canvas for Harriett Woods from her desk? Stand up to management and ensure that they kept social responsibility at the top of their agendas?  Helen used to laugh and say "they can't fire me, I'm OLD."

When the company decided to open its doors on Sundays downtown Helen helped pep up the day by bringing the SL Opera in to sing, the Symphony in to play, and most famously (or infamously) let Sandy and me convince her that it would be ok to bring in palm readers, tarot card readers, "fairies" and other spiritualists for a day we called Supernatural Sunday. Of course we didn't anticipate the religious right picketing outside the store tearing up their charge cards saying we were "worshiping the devil" inside! But when the dust died down, Helen defended us and reminded the higher-ups that they'd signed off on the deal, so we kept our jobs.  

I'll never forget the time Helen took a trip to Europe for two weeks and Sandy and I decided to clean her office. As you know, Helen had the same office for about 20 years before they moved us upstairs (or was it downstairs?) Her office was the repository for all of her treasured newspapers, the cosmetic samples and knick knacks that were prizes for contests or just SWAG from some event or another. Helen could always find what she needed in there, but we knew there was a lot of drek as well. Helen didn't like that office much anyway, but we weren't sure if it was becasue it was a mess, or because she had a hard time sitting still. Most of the time she liked to walk around the store and check on events, or sit up front and answer the phones to see what was happening, and we wondered if having a clean office might inspire her to hang out in it. We worked really hard for at least a week, and cleaned everything up, which also meant throwing away a ton of stuff. We were very worried that she'd be mad, and boy, was she MAD! I remember having an upset stomach for days afterwards. But Helen forgave us and soon the papers began to pile up again.

I still have (and adore) the beautiful pin she brought me from Paris.   Helen ruled over a time when Famous Barr was the queen of department stores, and when department stores believed in and supported their communities. In our promotions, Helen found ways to help people who really needed a new car or a $100 gift certificate. She championed ways for Famous Barr to help struggling people. Helen used to say "the have always get, the poor don't have"  but she made sure to do what she could to correct that whenever the opportunity came about. I didn't understand how revolutionary this was until I moved to Washington and worked for Hechts where the management wanted to make sure that the richest customers got the goodies whenever possible, so that more rich customers would visit the stores.

I learned then that Helen is a real angel and there aren't a lot of them in retail.   Back in the 1980s, the buyers knew their customers, and bought for each store a little differently. Helen knew all of the buyers and they knew her, and would regularly consult her about how to promote a new line or product coming into the stores. We were often tasked with coming up with ideas for events that would make a splash, and no event was too outrageous if we could get it into the papers or on tv.

One of my favorites was when Paco Rabanne had a promotion for a new cologne called "man in bed". New colognes were being released every day, so to get noticed companies had to do increasingly scandalous things. This one was brilliant.  Paco Rabanne was doing promotions in stores across the country hiring actors to participate. In St. Louis, Helen called up the Cardinals and got them to let one of the star pitchers pose in our window in bed (supposedly naked) with a phone and a bottle of champagne at his bedside. There was a phone in the street so that passersby could pick it up and talk with the player. The Cardinals were in the playoffs that year, so having one in a window naked and available to talk on the phone was really something special.  Of course it was the talk of the town and every tv station covered it as well as the Post-Dispatch.

We had a lot of other famous folks in and out of the store, and Helen made sure to get all of them in the news. This was around the time Jim Palmer first started strutting around in jockey shorts to shore up his career, and he came to Famous Barr, along with Phyllis Diller (promoting "the joys of aging and how to avoid them"), Gloria Vanderbilt, Paloma Picasso, Wayne Gretzky and just about every other star in the country who was endorsing a product, their own or someone elses. We had a lot of fun, got lots of media attention, and helped profits, too, I would add.   But Helen could get the TV cameras and news reporters to the store for a lot more than the big shots, and that was her talent. She could find a story in just about every promotion. She taught me that "every dog deserves to bark" and "we have to throw them bones even if we don't like them."  

Although Helen wasn't the most organized person in the world, she was a stickler for details. No press release could ever leave the office with a single typo. And this was the days before computers, and before self correcting typewriters. Sandy and I had to type everything a billion times and careful application of white out was our specialty.

Helen kept very high standards, was fiercely loyal to her friends and to me, and made sure I understood that we were very lucky to have jobs and to be able to be creative when so many people were either unemployed or stuck in factory jobs with no hope.   There is so much more. I could go on for days. I hope i'll be able to make a trip to St Louis soon to come see you all and share more stories in person, but right now i have to get back to work!  

Love,
Jan
 

Tuesday, September 9, 5 p.m.

Services for Helen  will be held at 10:30 a.m Friday, Sept. 12, at Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman Boulevard at Kingshighway.
Burial will be private. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday at Helen's home, 710 South Hanley Road, Apartment 17B, Clayton, and again after 7 p.m. Saturday at the home. See below for a full obituary and where memorial contributions may be made. 

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 4 a.m.

Our beautiful momma and your wonderful friend, Helen Weiss, died peacefully at 3:30 a.m. today. Following is a nearly complete obituary that we are sharing with the news media. We will add the funeral service information sometime later today. Please do not try to call as we will be busy with the arrangements; e-mails much preferred. Thank you for all the prayers and support that you've given us over these last few weeks.

--Dick and Jean

Helen Weiss, the public relations maven who staged an array of special events that delighted millions of Famous-Barr and Macy's customers over nearly half a century, died Tuesday morning (September 9, 2008) at her home in Clayton from complications of colon cancer. She was 83.

Ms. Weiss began her career at Famous-Barr in 1959 at a time when many women were just beginning to establish careers outside the home. Many in retailing and other professions looked to her as a role model. It wasn't for her ability to rise through the ranks.  She stayed a mid-level executive until her retirement last year. Rather it was because she always kept about her a sense of who she was - a party giver, a fashion plate, and an unreconstructed liberal who never fell out of love with that futile Democratic presidential candidate of the '50s, Adlai Stevenson.

Her work at Famous Barr and Macy's included elaborate store openings, book signings for a welter of stars ranging from Sophia Loren to Mickey Mantle  and Christmas extravaganzas that included not just Santa but a cow (as in seven maids a milking.)

She may be best known for choreographing the July 4 St. Louis riverfront air and water shows and fireworks from 1964 to1978. These events became the forerunner of what is now called Fair St. Louis. The shows annually attracted more than half a million St. Louisans - record crowds always - or at least that's what Ms. Weiss told members of the press. And they bought it in part because no one really knew how many showed up and in part because Helen Weiss was their favorite flack.

"We believed Helen not simply because we liked her but also because she established with us a reservoir of trust," said Robert Duffy, associate editor of the St. Louis Beacon. "If she couldn't tell us something, she told us that -- 'I can't tell you.' There was never equivocation, never a sense we were being manipulated or spun.

"On top of that,"  Duffy continued, "we understood her role at Famous-Barr was far greater than PR. She directed the store toward a role in civic affairs that transcended commerce. So, yes we liked Helen; in fact we loved here, and our love was reciprocated. But we respected and trusted her as well. Our community is diminished by her death."

Helen Weiss was born in Wheeling, W.V, but lived most of her life in St. Louis where she graduated from University City High School (now  is a member of its Alumni Hall of Fame) and Washington University. She married Richard M. Weiss in 1947, who went on to become a news producer and later an on-air business reporter for KSDK's perennially top-rated newscasts.

In the 1950s, Ms. Weiss got active in volunteer work, particularly with the Greater St. Louis Book Fair, a fundraiser for the Nursery Foundation which provides daycare services for disadvantaged children. The Book Fair was held during that time on the parking lot of the Famous-Barr store in Clayton. Ms. Weiss's work drew the attention of executives there and they hired her part-time to handle special events. Ms. Weiss went full-time a few years later after her two children gave her their permission.

Under the tutelage of such merchandising stalwarts as Morton May, Stanley Goodman and Joan Van de Erve, Ms. Weiss was encouraged to do bigger and more imaginative promotions.  Never given a large budget, Ms. Weiss used her imagination. For instance, she arranged to have that undergarment sensation, the Wonder Bra, arrive at Famous-Barr on its own -- in a limousine.  The Post-Dispatch played the event on the front page.

Ms. Weiss explained her success with the press this way: "I am willing to do almost anything to help them get a story and ask for little in return.  At first, this seems an uneven proposition, but I find that in the long run I have great success in getting my news in the newspaper and on television." In 2007, Ms. Weiss was elected to the public relations and advertising wing of the St. Louis Media Halls of Fame

Buoyed by her successes, Ms. Weiss pushed Famous-Barr to support a bevy of eclectic cultural events ranging from quilters out of Selma, Ala. to calliope players from Baraboo, Wisc. Some events did not always work out as planned. Famous-Barr once held an event promoting merchandise from Spain and featuring Spanish Flamenco dancers. At the last minute, though, the dancers called to say they couldn't make it. Ever resourceful, Ms. Weiss got in touch with some folks of Hispanic origin on the city's south side. They put her in touch with some dancers. The troupe arrived just in time - from New Mexico. 

 "We did our best to keep them away from the media," she confessed to a reporter 25 years later. "And to maintain the illusion that they were from Spain, we pleaded with them not to talk to anybody in English."

Ms. Weiss was never shy about sharing her opinions with top executives at May and Macy's concerning the stores' proper role in the community. When the Boy Scouts took an anti-gay slant regarding troop leaders she urged the brass to turn its back on the honors the organization wanted to bestow on the May Co. In her last year, she was advocating to widen the entrances to the downtown store for people with disabilities. If her remarks and opinions weren't always accepted - or appreciated - there were few at May or Macy's who didn't admire her.

"Helen Weiss was a rare talent," said Maxine Clark, a former colleague at May and founder and chief executive bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop. "She knew how to take a product, make it a hero, have fun while doing it and most of all to sell a lot of it. She taught an entire generation of younger retailers what entertainment in retail was all about. I will always be grateful that she took me under her wing and shared her lessons about marketing on a shoe string and about office organization with me. I owe much of what we do at Build-A-Bear Workshop to what I learned from Helen. She will be
missed but she lives on in our hearts....always."

Ms. Weiss was a member of several civic boards including the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri which honored her twice with its Leadership in Civil Liberties Award and the Eugene Buder Spirit of Liberty Award. She served most recently on the boards of Craft Alliance and the Great Rivers Enviornmental Law Center. The Nursery Foundation plans to dedicate a new playground in her memory next month.

She would throw parties on behalf of these organizations to spur planning and fundraising. Out  of her modest kitchen came culinary delights culled from a mountain of stained and dog-eared cookbooks. None would please a cardiologist.

Ms. Weiss was also know for her shoes and her earrings.  several years ago, the City Museum named her a Shoe Diva and put a part of her collection on display.  Her earrings -- most ostentatiously large -- were a signature and she was generous about lending them out.

As Ms. Weiss fell ill, she began hearing from dozens of women to whom she had provided advice on fashion and life.

One was Debby Silverberg who worked for a short time at Famous-Barr decades ago."I was one of the people she took shopping on Oak Street in Chicago," she wrote. "Helen made me try on couture, and then convinced me to buy the most expensive dress I've ever owned. I still have it and love it ... mostly because it reminds me of Helen. She was a role model for me... a woman who succeeded because she wasn't afraid to be herself."

Ms. Weiss is survived by her daughter, Jean Weiss (Dave Kester) of Mineapolis, a son, Richard H. Weiss (Sally J. Altman)of St. Louis; six grandchildren, Emily Weiss of Aspen, Co., Elizabeth Weiss, of Gunnison, Co., Katharine Weiss, of Tacoma, Wash., Jill Kester, of Alexandria, Va., Andrew Kester (Amber Kester) of Duluth, Minn. and John Kester of Minneapolis, and three great-grandchildren, Annalee, William and Sophie Kester of Duluth.

The family requests no flowers and suggests tax exempt contributions to one of the following organizations:

-- American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri, 454 Whittier Street, St. Louis, Mo 63108, or aclu-em.org.

-- Dr. Perlmutter's Parkinson Research Program, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid, St. Louis, Mo. 63110.

-- St. Louis Beacon, 3655 Olive, St. Louis, Mo 63108 or stlbeacon.org. 

 

Saturday, Sept. 6, 10:30 a.m.

Helen has taken a turn this morning and so we are having no more guests. We will keep you up to date through this site. The hospice nurse is telling us this passage could take hours or days, it's hard to know. We are feeling your prayers and want you to know that Helen is too.

-- Dick and Jean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, Sept 5,  7: 15 p.m.

Continuing our trip down memory lane, you see above a photo from a celebration, probably a wedding. Helen had met her match in a beanpole of a man, Dick Weiss, a law student at Washington University. He didn't win many cases, but he won Helen's hand. Then he went on to become a television news producer whose programs were almost always rated #1.  At left, you see Dick's brother, Jake, Helen's mom, Emma, Emma's brother, Arthur, Dick, Helen, Dick's sister, Margaret , and brother-in-law, Sidney.

We relived some of those memories today with guests, Jim Mann, Janet Schoedinger, Bob Duffy and Marty Kaplan. We watched a DVD that Jean produced for Helen's 80th birthday -- a zillion pictures and memories that closed with a rousing rendition of "Everthing's Coming Up Roses."  Ethel Merman has always made Helen smile.

We had another big day of visitors including Cathy Leonard (formerly of KSDK, now at Lambert Field) Mark Sableman, Debbie Podgorski, Linda Decker, Edie Rosenheim,  Jeanne Metzger, Mary McDonald, who traveled to Russia with Helen, David Landau and Mary Beth Pereira, Betty Epstein, Frances Franklin, Jessica Friedlander, our Alta Dena neighbor, Billy Landau and a man who shall go only by the initials S.V., who is saintly and wonderful.

We'd also like to express our condolences to the family of Selwyn Pepper who worked 50 years at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and died on Thursday in Overland Park, Kan.  Selwyn's daughter, Miriam is Sally's best friend and Selwyn was a mentor to me. He helped the P-D win three Pulitzer Prizes. The family will be in town for the funeral service and we are hosting a visitation after 6 p.m. Sunday at our home at 72 Lake Forest Drive, Richmond Heights. You can find Selwyn's obituary by clicking here for the St. Louis Beacon and also most likely in the Post-Dispatch on Saturday or Sunday. 

 

Thursday, Sept 4, 10 p.m.

Continuing our blasts from the past, here's Helen around about the time she graduated from U. City High. Quite a comely lass. Certainly that's what Bobby Orchard recalled as he visited Helen today with his wife, Lois.  I like to say I was almost Bobby's son because he dated my mom. But he said Helen played hard to get. Actually he was a bit more graphic than that but we'll leave it there.

As I write this, Helen is dining with gal pals, Ellen White, Joan Cohen and Patti Cohn. They served up spring pea soup, Rich & Charlie's salad, pasta a la Joan, lemon ice with fruit compote blueberries, and Cote de Rhone vino. It was quite a day  for visitors including Jeanne Metzger, Carolyn Losos, Bobby Duffy, Mary Silverman and Sandy Wasserman, Shari Sigoloff and Paige Rawitscher, Millie Cohn, Lauren Cohen, Mary Ann Kroeck, Scott Emanuel, and Brenda Jones. 

Paige (at right) demonstrated that she's ready to carry on Helen's high fashion legacy. 

Here's a note from Amber Kester, Helen's granddaughter-in-law:

Dear Helen,

You will always be remembered by your enormous collection of shoes, your large jewelry, your political involvement, and your love of news whether it be paper, television, or radio.  I also have some special memories that I share with you. 

My daughter's first political march:  I will tell her that Boa marched right along side of her stroller, down the Mall and past the White House in Washington DC.  At times each of us wished we had our own stroller.

Your granddaughter's bat mitzvah: the day the first Israeli astronaut's life was claimed in a devastating crash.  The TV crews were there to get a Jewish perspective, I happened to fall right in the middle of that camera shot, forever dubbing me, in your eyes, as the "cute blonde Jewish girl".  I am proud to be that "Jewish girl" even though it is only through marriage twice. 

You opened your home to Andy and me, wayward travelers, in an old pick-up truck on our way to Kentucky.  You treated us to dinner at an Asian restaurant.  What a treat after eating fast food.  You were kind to our dog, Sage and insisted that she come inside your home.  (Are dogs allowed in your building?)

These memories have had an influence on my life.  But most of all you have given us your daughter, Jean.  Jean has taken on a role that most people wouldn't touch:  a stepmother to three adult children.  She has jumped in with open arms and embraced all of us with love, patience, understanding, and generosity.  Your daughter is not only a step-mom but also a friend, advocate, supporter, and grandma to Dave's children and grandchildren.  You have raised a beautiful, confident, loving daughter.

Lots of love to you from Duluth, MN,

Amber Kester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen, age three or so...

Wednesday, Sept 3, 5:45 p.m.

We thought we'd share some vintage photos of our mom growing up. Just a few weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking to the West Virginia Press Association in Wheeling and got the chance to see mom's girlhood home for the first time. She spent her first fourteen years there with her mom, Emma, and dad, Harry Mankin, who was a downtown merchant. Not long after Harry died of heart disease in 1937, Helen and Emma came to St. Louis where Emma's brother Sig was living. Helen attended U. City High and ... I'll share more later.

Above is a shot I took of the home where Helen lived from about age 4 till Harry died. The owner was nice enough to invite me in and later told me he found an old Jello box in a corner of the kitchen which I'm sure is a family heirloom. Above right, a picture of Harry, Emma and Helen taken about 1927. 

Today Helen's visitors included Rabbi Randy Fleischer, Jeanne Metzger, Mary Silverman, Pam Younger, Claudette Frankovich, Carol Oehler, Sandy LaRouche, Joan Newman, Deanne Lane, Frank and Sandy Wasserman and Patti Cohn.  They brought food, flowers and happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen with (from left) Caryn Milaszewski, Linda Decker and Vicki Rosenkoetter.

Tuesday, Sept 2, 8:45 p.m.

After a day of hard partying, Helen received only a handful of guests today. But the day was enriched with fond memories of the Famous-Barr - Macy's days with former colleagues Linda Decker, Caryn Milaszewski, and Vicki  Rosenkoetter.  Also visiting Bob Duffy, Sandy Wasserman, Caroline Keane, and Judy Kubert and Mary Silverman (in the picture at right). Come to think of it... that is quite a few guests. All the Weiss granddaughters called today, Katharine, Emily and Elizabeth. Emily is making plans to visit in a week or so.Katharine is loving the University of Puget Sound, especially a political science class where the teacher assigned the political coverage in the New York Times as homework.

Today's written entry comes from grand-nephews-once-or -wice removed, Jackson and Calvin Weaver. The two sent some origami, one made of a dollar bill. Yo, Jackson and Calvin, ask Grandpa Joe Losos for some of those bills with Benjamin Franklin on them. I hear they fold better. 

Dear Helen,

We hope you get well soon. Thank you for all the things you've done for us. You've always been appreciated by us. You warm our hearts like a fire.

Love Jackson and Calvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen with (from left) Sheila Greenbaum, Maxine Clark and Chloe White

Monday, Sept 1, 8:45 p.m.

She's a party girl again. Helen got up and out to Maxine Clark and Bob Fox's annual Labor Day bash, dining on a burnt hot dog (she likes them that way), beans, applesauce and sorbet. Daughter-in-law Sally Altman observed it was the most food she had had in quite some time, but ladies do not like to be reminded of such things. Making their way over to Helen's table by the pool were the Greenbaum-Wassermans (see picture below)  with word that Rubyn will start her last year at WashU,. finishing up a degree in women and gender studies. Rubyn is interviewing with Teach for America but says she will probably ankle St. Louis for another city TBA.

The Whites, including Ellen, Bruce, Daniel and his ever-lovin Jen, came by with word that Jen had a ringside seat for Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Mile High Stadium. Jen said she was at one point sitting closer to the candidate than Joe Biden -- maybe because she's been working longer and harder at this thing than Joe has. We'd like to thank Daniel for using his brawn to help Helen up and down the steps. 

Mr. Fox made sure Helen had plenty of vittles and then did some bear-like pawing which we caught with our lense (at right).

Earlier in the day, Helen got visits from Sandy and Bob LaRouche, Tina Hodak, Jeanne Metzger, Judy Kubert and "cousin"  David Medelsohn. 

We received a sweet note from Kim Weindorf and from Ann Ross, a former member of the long-ago Famous Barr College Board. Here 'tis:

I have worked with Helen since I was a beginning retailer on a college board, a collection of first year college students who worked retail over the summer selling clothes to incoming college freshmen and to other customers too.

After that, I had a long retail career in the party business.

And after that, I helped a start-up company called The Blessing
Basket, and Helen Weiss was a big booster of ours.  She promoted our basket sales in Famous Barr, and took our idea with her to Macy's
higher-ups to help save the Third World, one basket at a time.

Her energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and I love her to pieces.for her beautiful heart. Please give her a big hug from me and my mother, Lois Ross, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen with (from left) Joyce Armstrong, Milly Cohn andJudy Kubert

Sunday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m

Cantelope soup and foot massages were the highlights today at the Weiss manse.  The first provided by Sissy Price and the second by Cyndy Maason.

 At the moment, Dave Kester, Jean's beloved, is at work on a rack of lamb. And we are enjoying a glass of wine. 

Other visitors today: Vivian Eveloff and Alan Morris, Mary Silverman, Judy Kubert, Louise Losos and Beth Wiggins  (who visited once before and we forgot to mention them... so sorry), Sandy Wasserman, Hedie Keller, Grace and Bernie Colton, Larry Raskin, and Jerry Teldon. Catching up from yesterday: Milly Cohn and Bob Duffy. From Becky Glenn came a tub of potato chips, from Hope and Julian Edison fresh peaches, from Karen Palmer Bland, a coconut cake and chocolates, from Vivian and Alan,soup and bread.

And I got this priceless e-mail from a long-ago colleague, Debbie Silverberg:

Hi, Richard.  I just learned of Helen's illness.  She's always been one of my favorite people -- a colorful woman with a huge heart.

Very early in my career, I worked at the downtown Famous-Barr store in management training.  I was sent to Helen's office to plan an event for the department I worked for.  I walked into her office, and she waved me in, saying, "Oh honey, just sit anywhere."

I looked around at the piles of papers, files, books and organized chaos that seemed to be everywhere and said, "Where the hell do you want me to sit?"  She swept her arm over the top of a stool piled high with document stalagmites, clearing it to the floor.  Files crashed, and the room filled with a storm of fluttering pages. 

"There,"  she said.  "Sit."

It was love at first sight for me.  Her sense of humor, while always being at the top of her business game was intoxicating. And somehow, she knew where every single piece of paper was in her office!  She was a role model for me...a woman who succeeded because she wasn't afraid to be herself.

I was one of the people she took shopping on Oak Street in Chicago. Helen made me try on couture, and then convinced me to buy the most expensive dress I've ever owned.  I still have it and love it...mostly because it reminds me of Helen and her over the top persona.

Please give her my love and tell her that I'm thinking of her from afar in California. I wish I could be there to give her a hug, but I'm nevertheless, sending my love.

Debby Silverberg 

 

Helen with Ellen Futterman and Deb Peterson.

Saturday, Aug. 30, 12:30 p.m.

Today we're heading out for Salon Ladue as Jean and Dave head in from Minneapolis.  It'll be the first time outdoors for Helen in several days and she's looking forward to it. We started the morning with visits from Pat Rich and Jane Sitrin, who brought tomatoes from the Clayton farmer's market. Then in came Ellen Futterman and Deb Peterson toting cupcakes and gossip. I was working in the living room but had to go back after hearing so much laughter. Yesterday afternoon and evening Helen got vistis from Joy Guze, Joan Shifter, Terry Lassar, Ellen and Bruce White, Caroline Keane, Liz Heideman, Julie Colton, Robert Zerby (in from SF), Margie Cornbleet, Mary Silverman, Jeanne Metzger and Joyce Armstrong.

Picture of the Day: Helen with (from left) grandaughters Emily, Katharine, Elizabeth, and daughter, Jean.

Friday, Aug. 29, 12:30 p.m.

Politics and civil liberties were the order of the day today as Bill Freivogel came over to interview Helen for a history on the ACLU of Eastern Missouri. Since the interview was taped, Helen donned a pair of earrings, smaller than saucers, but not by much. Bill spent about an hour doing the interview, then we talked politics. Helen agreed with Bill that no one would be fooled by McCain's choice of a woman as VEEP when that woman is anti-choice. Bill was curious to know just how far to the left Helen stood. I reminded her of the time that she said every incarcerated African-American should be let out of prison because none had gotten a fair shake. But that was just an opinion. She also had an impact. Many years ago, she said she persuaded May Co. executives to turn down awards from the Boy Scouts at a time when the scouts were taking positions offensive to gays. 

Also visiting today so far Joe Losos, Fred Epstein and Jeanne Metzger..

Got this note from Linda Decker, Helen's former boss at Macy's/May: 

Your food update is a riot.  I told Helen that finally people get to bring HER food for a change....she has been so generous to so many with great food when others are in need.  At my wedding, she insisted that the bridesmaids have something to eat before the ceremony...she brought 20 pounds of Straubs chicken salad for 4 bridesmaids!  Along with about 15 boxes of crackers. It was the talk of the reception!  So many people are blessed to have Helen in their lives.

 

And here's one from Barbara Ballinger, who sent bagels from New York

Dick said in his blog that you love hearing tales of our time with you and the rest of your family. Well, here goes more remembering. We ate everything else except bagels and always with lots of fresh butter, cream and tons of love and friendship! I learned the value of not just serving one dessert but MANY!!!! I learned the importance of inviting more than you could seat around a dining table for better conversation, camaraderie and fun. You were the best home entertainer long before Martha Stewart and you never went to jail! I put you and Mary Fisher in the same category of the two best St. Louis cooks, so we may need a bake-off!

And your generosity is legendary. You participated in parties to honor my two St. Louis cousins when they married, welcomed me to St. Louis from New York 28 years ago when I was terrified about coming to the Heartland and then welcomed me again 12 years ago from Chicago. You always orchestrated a dinner party when my folks came to town, came to my homes laden with gifts for my daughters, and you and Jeanne Metzger were great troupers and came to the girls' Bat Mitzvahs in Chicago. I remember hearing that you both shopped all over Oak Street, especially Barneys together. Did it make the Chicago Tribune? Maybe.

You have to get well so you can come to the girls' weddings some day. Yes, they each have a serious beau, but we're not planning yet. We'll send you a save-the-date, but they're counting on you to give your approval! Have you met Ann's cute, darling granddaughter Madison? She's a blond version of Ann and Lisa. I'm at my mom's apartment this week in New York, and we're reminiscing so much about your love of people, good causes and generosity. Are your ears burning yet? Julie was here earlier this week with Warren and her oldest Emily to drop her youngest Maggie off at Barnard College. We're still hoping maybe we can convince the Republican side of the family to wise up and vote Obama!  We know you could do it. We Ballinger, Buchholz and Schweig gals recently got together at a spa. We all talked about missing Shirley, and your name always found its way into our conversations about good times in St. Louis and elsewhere.

I'll be back soon and come visit and bring the cream cheese and smoked salmon, but in the meantime we hope you enjoy a taste of New York. Much love, hugs and kisses; you're the absolute best!

 Barbara (Estelle, Joanna, Lucy, Ann, Julie et al)

Thursday, Aug. 28, 3 p.m.

The food just keeps on coming. Right now I'm staring at the Nuts 'n' Stuff Goodie Tower that Mayron Catron-Lay sent over. It looks like the 15th story with the chocolate  and yogurt pretzels needs a cleaning.

I'm on it.

Helen occasionally dives in too. Maybe dives is too strong a word. She nibbles. She took a shine to Elaine Gernstein's creme brulee one of which unfortunately hit the floor. BUT IT STAYED IN THE CONTAINER and we invoked the five second rule as well. Milly Cohn brought over about five containers of baked goods which Chloe took an interest in before we caught her in the act. So you can see this is a bit like sending aid to a third world nation. Only some of it reaches the intended recipient. It's just as good to bring yourselves or send cards and e-mails. Spiritual nourishment, you might say. Helen especially likes hearing anecdotes from events you participated in with her. If you have pictures from those events send those, too... by e-mail or snail mail.

We have signed up with a hospice program and they are all about providing great physical comfort. They ask lots of questions so they can calibrate the care and medication to the Nth degree. Arriving shortly is something called an air mattress and some other equipment that will make breathing easier. 

Lots of people are asking about Helen getting out for this event or that. At this point it's really hard to say what she will be up to. Her vitality varies by the hour, so it's hard to make plans.

Visiting over the last 24 hours or so, Charles and Gigi Werner, Lizzy and Bert Schweizer, Jeanne Metzger, Mary Silverman, Marylen Mann, Tanya Palmer, the aformentioned Elaine and Milly, Sharon Bateman, Tess McMahon, Caroline Keane and Debbie Podgorski.

Here's a nice note from Louise Green that arrived yesterday: 

Dear Dick,

I never understood why Helen decided to adopt Great Rivers Environmental Law Center as one of her causes, but boy am I glad she ever did. She made an enormous difference to our "Environmental Awards Dinner" planning committee with her energy, enthusiasm, humor, experience and common sense, not to mention the numerous friends she could call on as needed - printers, graphic artists, writers. Above all, she made our meetings fun!

When we met at her apartment, she provided a lavish feast of pate, nuts, fruits, cookies, candies and wine!

Never averse to expressing her opinion, she was our sounding board in selecting the awardees. Some suggestions were emphatically rejected for what seemed to me irrelevant but determined reasons. I figured Helen understood community values better than I did.

She also had definite opinions about where we should hold the dinner and what should be on the program. A talk by an environmentalist would be "boring." The Awards Dinner should be fun!

Dear Helen, thank you for caring and for giving us your time and energy so generously, and for your determination to make the Awards Dinner fun!

With love and best wishes,

Louise

 

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 11:30 a.m.

"The only good thing about being sick is getting to see Carolyn more," Helen said just a few minutes ago as Carolyn Losos departed. There's no doubt friends and relatives make each day all the better. Also visiting today so far, Sissy Price and Miriam Raskin. Last night, Josephine Weil brought dinner in a picnic basket -- outstanding food and presentation! They watched Hillary deliver her speech and Helen gave it a thumbs up.

Here's a recent letter from Jane Corinne, who was a good friend of Jean's growing up. I used to torture the two of them as only a little brother can:          

 

Dear Helen,

Well, as I've been thinking about writing to you, so many thoughts and feelings keep coming up. The biggest though for me is gratitude for you. I may not have expressed to you well, nor kept in touch very well, but you have been a huge and important person in my life. From childhood right on through. I was so touched to read what Tracy Wasserman wrote and to see that you have just kept on being that important anchor person to yet another generation.

You have shown me how to live your principles; how to welcome and be open to people of all nationalities, sexual orientations, backgrounds, interests; how to recognize the excitement of our complex and diverse world. You were the first person I knew who had friends who were gay.  When I was in my 20s or so, you suddenly (or so I recall) said, "Janie, are you a member of the ACLU?" I wasn't. You said, "Well, you should be." So, I became one and still am today. Thanks for that Helen.

So, I wanted to write a few memories that stand out for me, just as a way of saying thank you for being you. For the record, I'll start with the one I mentioned when we talked on the phone the other day. I was somewhere in the teens or preteen, having drinks with you and Dick and my parents. The conversation turned to how sweet I was. You said, very clearly and distinctly, "Janie is NOT sweet. She's a lot of wonderful things, but sweet she is not." I wanted to kiss your feet! I felt so seen and recognized. You did always "get" me, and what a gift that is.

Earlier on was the time when I, with my somewhat rotund self, sat on the corner of a desk upstairs on Alta Dena. The glass top snapped, much to my horror. When you came home, and Jean and I were telling you about it, I began to cry out of embarrassment and shame. You looked at me and said, "Janie, this is HELEN. It doesn't matter - we'll just get another piece of glass." And I knew you meant it, that you were letting me off the hook. Phew.

And then on a lighter note, there was the year that Jean and I were old enough to stay home alone on New Year's Eve. We cooked up a big plan to celebrate with those paper horns, party hats, confetti, and I'm sure lots of food. We weren't sure how our confetti plan would fly, but we asked you if we could throw around confetti in the house. You said sure, so long as we cleaned it up later. So, we had full permission to go crazy at midnight, which we did, running all over the house, throwing those little paper dot confettis and blowing our horns. We dutifully vacuumed it up the next day, although I'm sure you found remnants for some time. We had a blast - thanks.

And then there were your famous dinner parties, for which Jean and I served as background kitchen help many a time. We worked alongside Emma, whom we loved and affectionately referred to as "Emma the maid" to distinguish her from "Emma the Grandma," to get the food out into the dining room, to clear the table, and clean up the zillions of dishes, late into the night. It was a pretty regular gig and kept us out of trouble.

Then there was the pièce de resistance, when you offered to give the dinner party the night before my wedding, welcoming Lee's family from Maine and my family for a fabulous meal. I didn't realize until later, when I learned more about how weddings are usually done, what a huge gift this was. With Lee's Dad being sick at the time, it was also so much more fun and comfortable than going out. I also recall that some airplane delays made us quite late, but you were your usual self, adjusting to the whatever. Thank you for loving me so much, way back then.

Okay, so indulge me in one more. There was the time over the winter holidays when Lee and I and my parents were invited for dinner. I didn't know that there were a bunch of other guests invited too. You let me invite my friends from Australia who had unexpectedly shown up in St. Louis to join the dinner party. It turned out that Pam and Lewis weren't the only last minute additions, and we ate up all the chicken. Someone asked for another piece of chicken, and you were mortified to have to say that there wasn't any more -that for the first time in your life, you had run out of the main dish. It was certainly not the first time you extended your hospitality to people you had not met before, and you were happy to do so. Of course, there was PLENTY of other food for all to enjoy and no one went hungry!

Well, I could go on, but there are letters from lots of other people for you to read. It seems that you'll be taking the big trip out of this lifetime sometime soon (although who knows, life is tricky and surprising). I know there will be as many beings on the other side to welcome you as there will be here missing your presence. You'll go with my love and extreme gratitude.

Love,

Jane

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 5:20 p.m.

Good eats today. Sandy Wasserman and Mary Silverman brought Sonic for lunch. Yes, a burger from a fast food joint. Hard to imagine that the woman who laid out Cherries Chicken Jubilee, Beef Wellington and all manner of rich and spicy food can be pleased with a sack of Sonic, but there you go.

Also walking in the door courtesy of UPS but not quite reaching Helen's lips just yet, three cannisters containing chocolate pretzels, chocolate covered peanuts and trail mix. It was a gift from another Book Fairie Maya Catron-Lay. Reason for the delay: Each need to be tasted first for texture and quality by her son.

Sending coals to New Castle but very appreciated nonetheless were earrings from Macy's/May PR colleagues Ed Smith, Sharon Bateman. Milinda Martin and Robin Reibel. She looks great in them guys.We are reprinting Ed's note below so you get an idea of what fun they all had working together.

Today we had visits from Laura McKenna, Kathleen Mollerus, Caroline Keane, Patti Cohn, Tanya Palmer and Ellen White. We had to turn some away unfortunately because the sandman arrived mid-afternoon. But that should mean Helen will be able to catch all of Hillary's speech tonight. 

Here's that note from Ed:

Dear Helen,

I'm sending this on behalf of your pals from the good old May Company days - Milinda, Robin, Sharon and me. We are so sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. Just know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

When we started thinking of something to send to cheer you up (keep in mind, we're East Coast, West Coast, South Coast and Middle America so there was a lot of going back and forth), we first thought of flowers ....... but they only last a few days. Then we thought about sending a plant, which of course would last a really long time, but you'd have to water the damned thing and take care of it.

Then we decided ..... Helen always shows up looking like the total fashion plate - and always with fabulous ears. So what better thing to send than a new pair of earrings to add to your collection of thousands. These were designed and signed by a Brazilian artist named Solange. We hope you like them.

We all agreed that some of our most wonderful times were spent at your home when you hosted those fabulous suppers for the Special Events & PR folks from all the divisions across the country. With you as the ever-perfect Grande Dame in your hostess attire and accessorized to the 9's, floating about making sure everyone was having a wonderful time. And your cook Emma (that was her name right?) in the kitchen frying up the most fabulous fried chicken. So much fun - no wonder every year we'd unanimously vote to go to Helen's rather than some stuffy restaurant. So thank you for opening your fabulous home and hospitality to us.

And on an even more personal note, you and I go back to the 70's and 80's when Famous and Foley's were both in the book business and we would meet in a different city each Memorial Day Weekend for the big Book & Author Convention.  We'd hit every book sellers booth, suck up to the publishers, editors and authors in hopes of getting them to commit to a personal appearance in our stores, and by the end of the day we'd look like pack mules schlepping bags full of free books to our hotel rooms. Such marvelous times. And of course you always seemed to get the best authors for Famous - you no doubt had the connections, promised more and lied better than the rest of us - HA!

So Helen, just know that we love you and you're in our thoughts and prayers. To the four of us, and we know to countless others, you will always be the Consummate PR Maven Extraordinaire.

Love & Hugs - ever and forever

Milinda, Robin, Sharon & Ed

 

Monday, Aug. 25, 8:15 p.m.

 

Everyone wants to be remembered. Some are lucky enough to live not only in the memories of their loved ones, but in a tangible way as well. Helen is one of the lucky ones.

The Nursery Foundation, the organization best known by its annual fundraiser, the Book Fair, is dedicating a playground in Helen’s name. Earlier this week, “Book Fairies” Joni Karandjeff and Jean Riezman visited to bring Helen the good word. They came with plans and renderings for the playground which will be located at 1916 N. Euclid where the Nursery Foundation is located. Ground is to be broken any day now and it should be ready for the kiddies in four to six weeks.

Joni said plans for playground have been in the works for more than a year because of .Helen's "many years of support and dedication" to the Greater St. Louis Book Fair and the Nursery Foundation. The fairies are planning a celebration for Helen. Stay tuned for more details.

Jean and I well remember our days riding with mom as she collected books across the city. The piles of books would grow higher and higher in the back seat till our heads nearly hit the ceiling. She always let us keep one or two -- so we owe the Book Fair.

Visiting today were Judy King (with fruit), Julie Colton, Leecy O’Brien (bringing lunch), cousin Caroline Keane, Karen Bland, and Patti Cohn. We did some physical therapy and for dinner had a steak so rare it was mooing when it hit the plate. She likes that way.

Now we're watching the Democratic convention. Aren't you?

Sunday, Aug. 24, 11:30 a.m.

Memo to Mary: We love the flowers. Thanks so much. We want to send you a note but gosh Helen has more than a few friends named Mary which was how the card was signed... and even more friends that go to Straubs (CWE) where these flowers come from. When we called the store, they could describe you ... tall and with perhaps a broken wrist. But for some reason they couldn't give us your last name. I'm personally embarrassed because I should have investigative reporting skills. In the meantime, thank you to all Marys just in case you are the one.

No Marys showed up in person Saturday, but we got a Debbie as in Podgorski, a Joe as in Losos, a Cynthia as in Todd, a Sharon as in Stevens. Also Jim Liberman and Janet Goodman, Sandy, Frank and Tracy Wasserman (who is pregnant and due on Dec. 24), Bob Duffy, Marty Kaplan and Daniel and Jen White (who are off to the Democratic convention.) By the way, we have already submitted the form for an absentee ballot for Helen. And she aims to hang in there for election day Nov. 4, which is also my birthday. (Mary take note.)

Jim Mann and Janet Shoedinger sent a a scrumptious cherry pie and have promised to follow a visit. We're saving it for you.

Here's a wonderful note to Helen from my good friend and colleague Jan Paul:  

Dear Helen,

I'm so sorry about your news. Cancer sucks. When you first hear the pronouncement (I got my diagnosis on voice mail - "You have the real ovarian cancer. Have a nice weekend!), it's like a kick in the gut. But then a million people surround you with hugs, green teabags and cookies. The best advice I got was not to let cancer define me.Don't you either.

You are Helen Weiss, a beautiful woman, full of life and verve and surrounded by a community full of people who love you. And you have the most beautiful white hair (tell Dick to restore your standing hair appointment, now!), mischievous eyes and the BEST collection of big earrings I've ever seen. The room always lights up when you walk into a party, and you're the only marketing maven I've ever seen reporters and editors flock to rather than duck to avoid.

OK, now for a confession. It's about the Wonder Bra. When Famous- Barr (and I'm assuming you were behind it) arranged for the Wonder Bra to arrive by limousine at the Galleria, and no doubt TV reporters covered its arrival by helicopter, I threw myself in front of Foster Davis to stop him from putting the story, cute as it was, on Page A1. He labeled me a feminist ideologue and my career, well, snapped. Maybe he was right. Ten years later, I could use a pushup bra. In any case, it was a brilliant piece of publicity.

I will check to see if you're up for visitors in a week or so. Meantime, be well, laugh often, enjoy your children and grandchildren and friends, eat whatever you want. I'll keep you in my heart and my prayers.

Much love,

Jan 

 

Saturday, Aug. 23, 1:30 p.m.

A few years ago, Sally and I, along with perhaps a dozen other members of Central Reform Congregation helped Easter Canady get resettled after she lost her home to Hurricane Katrina. Easter lost nearly everything, but not her spirit. With a bit of help from us, but mostly on her own initiative Easter found a new home, and got a good job here with attorney Jay Umansky . Easter couldn't say thank you enough to us and always said she wanted to return the blessings. And now she has. When Easter heard that my mom was ill and in need of caregivers, she came a-calling. Today she is helping mom get through her daily routine and will be there for us in many days to come. 

As the song says, we are hearing from from friends from California to the New York island by e-mail and with cards and letters. Each gets read aloud to Helen.  Sometimes we cannot get through them without choking up. By that I mean Jean and me. Helen just smiles. You'll see one below from Sally Barker with more to come as I can get to them.

Friday was a huge day for visits, including in no particular order... Laurel Miller, Sissy Price, Carolyn Losos (who brought a Crown Candy banana malt and BLTs), Tanya Palmer, Millie Cohn (just back from Paris, Joyce Armstrong, (toting Ted Drewes), Mary Silverman, Jeanne Metzger, Marylen and Julie Mann, Ray Hartmann, Joan Cohen, Ellen and Bruce White, Bobby Duffy and Marty Kaplan. 

So far today, Debbie Podgorski, (with goodies from Companion Bakery) and Joe Losos. Flowers and best wishes arrived from Marcie and Robert Pass.  

A word about my sister, Jean. How did such a person emerge from my mother's body?  She is so organized. All things Helen are now in spreadsheets -- the medications, the caregivers and their schedules, the payments and where they are all going. She is returning to Minneapolis on Sunday for about a week, but before she does she is going to introduce me to pivot tables. I hope that has something to do with food or basketball, otherwise it's going to give me some problems. 

Here's that note from Sally Barker:

Dear Helen,

When I heard about your illness from your family, I thought about the Bette Midler song that starts out, "Have I ever told you that you're my hero.." You have always been one of mine -- so it's about time I told you!

Growing up, you were the only married woman I knew who had a a job. It was an important image for a little girl in the 1950s who harbored secret dreams of being an attorney. How lucky I was to become your friend and political co-conspirator when I grew up. Your spirit, energy and accomplishments have been an inspiration to me and so many other women.

I hope to drop by by to see you soon and let you know about all the political developments and gossip. And for you, I will work even harder for the Democrats as you continue to be my heroine and inspiration.

Love,

Sally Barker 

.  

Friday, Aug. 22, 4 a.m.

I know she's a shoe diva. But I had no idea about this jones for Merrells. We have all the colors white, red, baby blue --a pair to go with anything and everything. Well, sort of. The other day we were going to the doctor  and I was looking for a pair that matched. Found some blue ones. Helped her put them on. They were two lefts.Somewhere out there are two rights.

I think by now Jean has found them. I'm out of town at the moment but she says she's got the Merrells, all 100 or so, in the living room . Now which earrings go with which Merrells?

Jean is doing a great job putting the house in order. Nearly all the newspapers are out now except the latest editions which Helen still reads avidly.

On Thursday. Helen held forth for Bill Landau, Joy Guze, Josephine and Dick Weil, Zip Feinstein, Grace and Bernie Colton. Patti Cohn and Ellen White brought dinner highlighted by Ellen's  outstanding corn soup.

Also in town to see Boa and back from Israel, Jordan and Egypt,  granddaughter Elizabeth Weiss with boyfriend Ryan Garvey. Both are on their way  to Western State College of Colorado where school starts next week. They are getting there in a refurbished Subaru with 200K on it and counting. Katharine Weiss is in Tacoma getting ready for her freshman year at the University of Puget Sound with Sally and sister Emily. 

Thank you to Gary Wasserman Sheila Greenbaum, and Rubyn for beautiful flowers. Also to Chris and Claire Condon (yes, the former anchor now living on the east coast) for same. And then there were  brownies from Tanya Palmer which I'm told are so delicious that there won't be any left for the No. 1 son when he returns late today. That doesn't mean you should send anything. Just bring yourselves or send a note. That's the best medicine Helen can get.

  

Wednesday, Aug 20, 6:45 p.m.

And just when we were on the edge of despair...As we were cleaning Helen's apartment we were just sure that we were going to find a ton of money. The lady leaves cash lying around all the time. But noooo.... for most of  the day just nickels, dimes and quarters and a couple of dollar bills. Geez, you could find that in my sock drawer. But then Sandra Marie Wasserman moving into the second hour of her cleanup detail and reaching into a Famous-Barr sack filled with newspapers from 2002 comes up with 50 buckaroos. Now we're up to $106.76 and counting. As I write this Sandy is heading over to the slots at Luminere. 

Think we're getting a little slaphappy around here?

Today along with Sandy, we had visits from Mary Silverman, Jeanne Metzger, Nancy Sachar, Patti Cohn, Julie Colton, Karen Foss and Laurie Light.  That pepped Helen up considerably before we trundled on out to a doctor appointment. Met a very compassionate and thorough oncologist who went over some options that we're now considering.

When we got back I found this wonderful note from former KSDKer Christy Ferer:

Helen is legendary to me --- having gone to high school with my mother, given me my first flirtation with fashion at Famous Barr, and moreover having given me my career. If it were not for her and your Dad I would have never "made air" as it goes and thus probably would not be sitting where I am today, in New York City running a production company.

Your Dad would make sure that I received the best stories and  the best airtime when I was a KSDK-TV reporter in St. Louis. Your Mom always played critic. Who else was going to give it to me straight?

Your Mom has always had such a saucy spirit and that broad smile always bespoke her spirit of generosity. She is the real deal. Give her a real hug and kiss from Christy Ferer.
 

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 11:45 a.m.

Thank you so much Bob Fox and Maxine Clark. Your helper Bessie has arrived on the scene and is starting work on a decade's worth of clutter in the Weiss manse.  Already she has dug down to terra firma. Every recycling bin throughout this 21-story building is now full. 

Today Miriam Raskin stopped by with gravlax and Joe Losos with good cheer.

 

Here's a great memory from gal pal Madge Treeger:

Helen: I wrote you a formal note before I discovered your website. I am totally intimidated by the writings of your friends and colleagues that Dick has posted, but have been thinking of you with a grin as I recall a few choice moments...The first was arriving downtown at Famous to give a talk at your request..

I arrived at your office, said I really needed help shopping for a dress. You led me to one of my favorite dresses of all time, which I bought (the most expensive dress. I had ever bought at that time) ;for exactly the amount of the fee you were paying me for speaking on ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING. Carrying the dress over my arm, I arrived to give my speech. Under the circumstances, I am not sure I was very believable. Anyway, I think it was seeing your office that made me feel a strong bond! And, of course, my famous husband...perhaps the only person that you regularly met at parties couldn't wait to take his coupon to Famous at 6 in the morning to get his $15 (or was it $10) discount.  You were a peach providing him with discount sales tickets.. He hasn't made an early morning run to Macy's since you retired. When you feel like it, I hope you will allow me to barge in on some of your girltalk time with Ellen, Patti, and Joan.

Love, Madge  

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 9:15 p.m.

 A good night for Helen. She moved out of the bedroom under her own power all the way down the hall and to dinner with Ellen White. Ellen promised that she would have Barack Obama pay Helen a visit because her daughter-in-law, Jen,  is very in with the candidate. Maybe I'm stretching that a bit. I told Ellen to ASK Jen to have Barack pay a call. Yes he can. 

We also had visits from Patti Cohn, Marylen Mann and Frank Jacobs, Joan and Don Shifter, Sandy Wasserman and Mary Silverman,  and Jeanne Metzger.  

Also visiting was Chloe Weiss who vacuumed the floor with her mouth.

Many messages received today. Here's one of our favorites from Tracy Wasserman who managed to get all the way through college without learning how to use capital letters:

 

well of COURSE, i cannot forget the thanksgivings, (or was it xmas's?) we'd come to helen's for dinner with a whole bunch of others... and she ALWAYS had "appy" pie for me.

you tell her that i won't let her leave us without one more pie. now- i cannot say who actually made said pie, regardless, it was always there.

and helen still won't let me forget the days of yore when i clearly couldn't say apple pie, but like any good jacobs/silverman/wasserman girl- i KNEW that i wanted it- whatever it was. (dessert was served few and far between in our house- i had to get it where i could.)

and i cannot forget my mom clodding me to helen's when she still lived in her house to help clean the truly remarkable amounts of namely newspapers and stockings she had around. PLUS. if you found money (coin or dollar) you got to keep it. um, can i come over now and help clean??

and ALL the gifts, love, support throughout the years. political inspiration, motivation, and most importantly, the fact that someone my OWN grandma's age/likeness could be so.... cool? in touch? with it?career-minded? liberal? free spirited and thinking? all of the above. that STILL amazes me.


xo
tracy marie or TRAY as helen fondly calls me.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 12:30 p.m.: Well it isn't just good news that travels fast. We have heard from so many people over the last 24 hours expressing their best wishes and remembering great times with Helen. I'm going to reprint some of them here. So if you write in, know that your thoughts might be spread around to a wider audience or say off the record. We'll also make this like a Deb Peterson/Jerry Berger column posting sightems at the Helen manse and what people have to say. If you have a picture of you with Helen, send it in and we'll post those too.

 A word about visits. It seems like 15 minute pop-ins are best for her. She may doze off on you which I'm sure you will understand and tolerate but it makes her feel bad to do that. It's tough to get a feel right now for doing  parties and events but we want to. make that happen. And we want to get her out because it helps keep her fit. So we're playing it by ear and we'll call you for dates, maybe lunches or even plays (which she is sure to fall asleep at, but so what...) For now the 15-minute pop in is the order of the day. Call at 314-725-4233 15 minutes to a half hour before it's convenient for you and we'll let you know if Helen is up for it. 

Okay ,here's a first message for you to enjoy. It's from Julius Hunter. I think he used to be a  news reader or something...

 

Dear Dick and Jean:

Thank you so very much for sharing the distressing news about Helen. I think you know how much I love her, and how close we have been for nearly 40 years. She has been such a wonderfully ebullient, effervescent, tenacious,enabling, giving, sharing, caring, humorous and lively flower on this earth that you can be sure that she has made the world around her a much better place by her sheer presence.

With my new book currently at the printers, I was thinking just the other day about the memorable interviews Dear Helen set up for me -- notably the one with Sophia Loren and Julia Child. Helen is prominently mentioned in the book in both episodes. I hope she is able to see the book. It will be out the last week of September.

We have always enjoyed out jokes about being "cousins" and have laughed uproariously at my memories of Dick throwing desks across the Channel 5 newsroom to make a point, and we have chuckled over the fact that I once caught her buying a HAM at Straub's. I was also privileged to visit her in her home in U. City and on Hanley.

Please convey my love and hope to Helen. I will write her a note tomorrow.

Thanks for allowing me in the family loop. And please keep me informed.

J. Hunter

 

Monday, Aug. 18, 2:45 pm: Helen Weiss is back in her digs after a weekend stay at St. Mary's Hospital. She's accepting visitors, but call or e-mail first to see if she is awake. Phone 314-725-4233. Send cards and letters to 710 South Hanley, St. Louis, MO 63105. You can e-mail her at weisswrite@gmail.com or jeanaweiss@yahoo.com. We'll read her your messages. 

 

-- Dick Weiss