I am headed off to say goodbye to a friend.
I moved to San Antonio, which I often refer to as the biggest small town in America, from Washington D.C. a little over four years ago when I got married and my husband landed a job here.
In many ways the move was traumatic and a bit of a culture shock. However, the public relations community here welcomed me through the local PRSA chapter, which now has its own blog.
One person that was on the welcome wagon was Marilyn Potts. She was a connector ala Malcolm Gladwell’s book the Tipping Point.
Last year, she served as president of PRSA San Antonio and I had the privilege of serving with her.
Marilyn was in a car accident a few weeks ago and unexpectedly died from complications last Saturday. We thought she was on the mend, but it didn’t work out that way. When I visited her in the hospital, she was only concerned by the inconvenience she had caused us on a committee we were serving on together. That was Marilyn, always thinking of others.
Today, the people who knew and loved her are gathering to pay their last respects. Much of the San Antonio public relations community will be there because Marilyn was a person who really made a difference to all of us personally.
Most of you reading this post didn’t know Marilyn, but you know someone like her I am sure. Also, it serves to remind us that every day is a gift and we all can choose in our personal and professional lives how to live it. Do we give back and build each other up, or do we tear each other down?
I choose the former.
Here is Marilyn's obituary in the Express News and another one on the PRSA Byline blog.
Rest in peace Marilyn, we will miss you.
[…] I have had some outstanding mentors in this regard, one of which was the late Marilyn Potts, whom we honor tonight. She was devoted to these principles, and went out of her way to help me […]