If you have come to this site, I am certain you have fond memories of Alan. He deeply touched thousands. The outpouring of love that Lisa, Allison and I have felt from everyone supports that. Thank you.
While I have shared many great times with my father, I am always staggered by the thousands of stories that others have shared with me. I know there are thousands more I have never heard. They say that we glorify the past, but I don't know, it seems to me that he came from a time and a place where truly great things happened.
These things that you learned, taught and shared with him need to be collected. It is our hope that these memories will not be lost, that they will be made available in book form, to whomever wishes to learn, to laugh and to remember.
We hope that you will take the time to write some of your fondest memories and thoughts here. Just click on the grey "comments" at the bottom of this blog (and email me pictures) We'll collect these, put them into a book and distribute them early September.
While we appreciate the many letters of condolences we have received, we are trying to collect stories from a happier time. Having said that, any story that exposes who he was will do. Nothing is too short or too long. And please feel free to tell as many as you wish to be heard, and maybe even a few that should not be heard.
If some of you are digitally challenged, we can also receive materials via good old US Post. Any items you wish returned should have your address on the back.
With much esteem and humble thanks,
Alan Pottasch Jr.
18 Chestnut Hill Dr
New Fairfield, CT.
06812
917-701-7625
alan@ampfilms.com
9 comments:
Once upon a time, before Alan was the urbane sophisticate that he later became, he was asked to escort Joan Crawford to a dinner. Somewhat nervously he accepted and wearing his new suit he arrived at her apartment; only to find as she opened the door that no one had mentioned to him that it was a black tie affair. La Bella Crawford, not known for her shyness, let loose a verbal blast that would have been the envy of a First Sergeant. Finally, coiled in her limo and somewhat mollified, she fixed Alan a drink from her well stocked bar, and they had several minutes of what passed for some light hearted conversation. Then, as they approached the hotel and the crowd of Joan’s waiting fans; she said “now Alan, you had better get rid of your drink” So ever agreeable, he threw the drink out the window- which was unfortunately closed. (They say you could see the mushroom cloud even in Europe) --Peter K. Warren
ALAN
The time is 1951. The scene is an ABC television studio on 66th Street off Central Park West where Alan and I first met. I was a cameraman and he was a director, and we were both around 25 and single.
The next scene is two weeks ago when Alan and Bushy flew up to Bantam Lake in Connecticut where our family has a home. He came in on those ponderous pontoons he loved so much and, as usual, wouldn’t let me help him dock since he thought I was too much of a klutz to do the job right.
In between are 56 years of the longest friendship of my life. I’ve known Alan longer than I’ve known my wife of 50 years. Between Alan and me, we’ve produced seven children, three airplanes, one bachelor party, a heart bypass, a cancer and multiple careers, and through it all, looking back, I have to confess that I was the recipient of more generosity coming from his direction, than from me to him. He taught my three children how to scuba dive, hosted me and my family numerous times at homes here and in the Caymans, and held my second son during his ritual circumcision, since I couldn’t stand watching it or even being in the same room in which it was taking place. He even forgave me - reluctantly - for refusing to go up in his plane for the past 35 years, ever since his radio went out on our way to Reading, Pennsylvania, when the weather turned bad and visibility dropped to almost zero – which meant that without radio contact we didn’t know if there were any planes nearby that we could crash into. I knew we were in trouble when he started whistling, since I never heard him whistle before or since. But then again, his latest plane is 60 years old and has one-third the horsepower of my car, so I wasn’t going up in the damn thing no matter what.
But there he was, just two weeks ago, he and Bushy having coffee at my house, taking off from the lake and dipping his wings as he flew by. He was just an indomitable force. I cried when he died.
- Hank Behar
Alan took me under his big wings when I joined Pepsi marketing in the early eighties. I learned a lot about people management from him. Things I still apply to this day. He also gave me a lot of insight in how to navigate the slippery slopes of corporate politics. I am eternally grateful for his support and guidance.
This fond memory of Alan goes way back to 1978. At the time I had just started working for Alan in the Advertising Department at Pepsi. Alan taught many of us to scuba dive with class lessons taught at Purchase and pool work in Greenwich. With his tutelage I became the proud owner of a NAUI certification. Soon after that he invited some of his students to his house in the Cayman islands where we discovered 100' visibility and his fantastic hospitality.On one of our dives at Allens Alley, his favorite dive site, the anchor got stuck in a rock at about 60'. Alan tried maneuvering the boat for some time to no avail. He turned to me and handed me a pony bottle(a mini version of a tank with compressed air)Smiling he said, "this has never been used. Go down and free the anchor"
I took a deep breath, dived in and held my breath t'ill I reached the anchor stuck in the rock. As I struggled to free it I took a deep breath from the pony bottle. To my horror there was a half a breath of air and it went dry. The anchor free, I made a bee line for the surface. After what seemed like an eternity I made it to the surface and back on to the boat gasping for air. I told him what had happened and that I nearly drowned.
He smiled that Alan smile and said. "did you free the anchor"
It’s been difficult thinking about writing memories of Alan in the past. I’d like to remember some of the fun and wonderful things your dad had me involved in. I first worked for him in International division. We worked closely with Peter Warren and the international Pepsi offices. They were an interesting assortment of people and very close like family. I took a vacation alone to Mexico one year and visited the Pepsi office. Was I ever in for a surprise the whole office took me out to a luncheon in my honor. I sat at the opposite head of a very long table -- apx. 30 people -- was I ever glad to have taken HS Spanish some 15 years earlier. They were all very kind with my botched words and we had a wonderful time-they appointed 2 ladies to escort me allover Mexico City--and when I got to Taxco I was the guest of the local bottler‘s family. What wonderful memories pour over me --and all because of how much they revered your dad. Years later I went to Paris and Vienna with Ann Gayles, PKW’s secretary. Again lightening struck -- we were met by Mike Lvov at the airport --he had two beautiful bouquets of flowers for us. He took us to our hotel - and during the time we visited there we were taken to the Pepsi offices … The Follies Burger, and spent a delightful weekend at his country home and prime 10 star restaurants. I still treasure the pictures we took -- then off on the train to Vienna we went -- there we were met by Bob Pagnucco, and we stayed at his lovely apartment. He was our guide throughout this beautiful city. Ann and I were on our own in Venice, but hey that’s ok. Rome was our next stop - the welcome mat was out again.
Alan the Pilot -- you know how much your Dad loved to fly. He was a very close friend of Jack Strayer the man who flew the Pepsi Biplane sky writer. He gave Alan flying lessons at the Westchester Airport. When Alan got his license --it was December 7th -- don’t remember the year, he came to the office so happy that morning and said he was bursting to fly. He asked me if I wanted to go across the Hudson for a cup of coffee. I said sure. I was a little tense watching him peak into all the various port holes checking if all the fluids were in etc, but then up we went, landed at a small airfield and we had a cup of coffee -- there was a bulletin board with pix of a lady pilot -- she was 80 years old/young. He said you should try to fly to Norma. When we got back to the office Bob Pagnucco (a very close friend of your dad’s and lawyer for our department) called me and said: “are you crazy he just got his license he’s got no experience …I wouldn’t go up with him.“ I always thought your dad could do everything and I had nothing to worry about. I flew a few other times with him. A little scary when he told me to take over the wheel -- wow --and when he would bank off sideways to point out his home. There was a film shoot over the Hudson and we flew there and back. It was all great fun and an experience few people have.
I was told a funny story about your dad, I asked him later if it was true and he told me yes. When the actress, Joan Crawford (the widow of Alfred Steele), required an escort your dad was the appointed “gofer “guy to escort her to various functions. Pepsi kept an apartment in NYC for JC -- there was a formal occasion and your Dad had to go to pick her up. When he got to the apartment she told Alan to fix some Martini’s (she loved them) to take on the way. When they got into the limo she slugged hers down and tossed the glass out the window; your dad wasn’t much of a drinker and his glass half full -- and he thought what the heck I‘ll toss my glass out too --however, your dad‘s window wasn’t open it smacked into the window and baptized the two of them.
I learned a lot of different things working for your dad. Besides being your dad’s secretary, I handled his checkbook and his stock portfolio. I got to be good friends with Manufacturers Hanover Trust, and in particular your dad’s stockbroker Wally. In fact I learned so much I was able to take early retirement! You know when I retired and looked at my portfolio in the “P‘s” -- Pepsi, Plum Creek and Proctor &Gamble, my eye would pass over a stock “POT for Potash” (the spelling was close enough) -- the price was high and always going higher.. Too rich for my portfolio. Then one August day 4 years ago, my P&G split and I noticed Potash did too. So I bought 50 shares and it split so I had 100 shares -- 6 mos. Later it split again; it dropped for a period and I bought 100 more shares at a good price, last year again, lo and behold it split 3-1 this June and it’s still going gangbusters. I told your dad about it a few times, I don’t know if he bought any shares. I actually was going to ask him what his mom’s maiden name was to see if lightening could strike twice. (smile)
I remember when I took your sister Allison to the Cayman’s (where your dad was recuperating) she was 3 years old (going on 20), While at NY airport awaiting takeoff Allison and I were walking around the terminal she stopped at each phone booth and put her little fingers inside the coin return scoop and told me “daddy always checks”.
There were some great perks working for Alan, I’m a political junkie and had some very interesting moments. During the Nixon administration DMK sent your dad on loan to Washington, DC to overseer the Inaugural Ball festivities. I would contact Alan through the White House telephone system and had talks with such luminaries as Jeb MacGruder, and one or two other Nixon staff members whose names I can’t recall. It is my recollection that the Nixon Inaugural Ball was the first and only one that paid off in the black, quite a coup. There were always interesting names on Alan’ rolodex.
There was a time when Pepsi had a seminar set up for Pepsi Bottlers and spouses in Washington -- It was a learning course on how to enact with Congress and lobbyists. Several bottlers had to cancel because of an important meeting. We had to fill some seats at this seminar, and Alan asked me if I would like to go. You bet, I said. It was a 2-day session and the speakers were House & Senate members and lobbyists. I remember sitting in at a Senate meeting in the visitors gallery -- and later going into Senator Barry Goldwater’s office for lunch -I had a chance to chat with him and I told him he was my brother’s special hero -- I know it was probably politically incorrect but I did tell him I personal y was a Conservative Democrat -- he smiled and said his late dearest friend was one too -- JFK. Midway through the lunch bells started ringing in the Hall and the Senator’s office and he excused himself, as it was a call for him to place his vote on a Bill. That evening there was a cocktail & dinner party at the Georgetown Hotel where I was in the company of many interesting people.
The Pepsi Conventions were a lot of work and even a more a lot of fun -- I think one of the funniest times was when Michael Jackson was about to come out on stage and Alan heard commotion and squeals from Michael’s room. Alan went in to see what was wrong and MJ said “I dropped my glove in the toilet…I can’t go on without it.” Alan grabbed a coat hanger and fished it out and dropped it in the sink and turned the water on. Michael squealed and laughed --put it on and came on stage. This was a lot better than burning his hair.
He was special --- everyone loved him, admired him, enjoyed his company. We used to have a shoeshine man come to the executive offices -- Alan would engage them in talk and often they’d say “no charge Mr. P” -- he did tip them though. Even the cafeteria staff loved him -- when he was on his diets the waitress Lucy always had his daily plate prepared --it’s funny but -- typical His lunch was free -- I had to pay for mine. --Norma
It was my first video for PepsiCo and it was a big one -- the Pepsi-Cola Story for the 100th Anniversary Bottlers' Convention on the big island of Hawaii. We had the facts, the script and we'd been shooting and shooting the story -- but something was missing. I called Alan, who was supposedly "retired," and he graciously offered to take a look. I arrived at his home and we spent the afternoon reviewing the video. Alan talked about why one scene works and another very similar scene doesn't. He explained how to transition quickly and techniques that made the story move. We agreed everything the video needed was there -- but some
of it had to go. Alan gave of his time and even more of his knowledge. I came away knowing I had learned as much in one afternoon as I might have learned in a year of film school. The video opened the meeting and at the end the bottlers burst into loud applause. I clapped too -- in
thanks to Alan. (P.S. - We still get requests for the video.)
Elaine Palmer
PepsiCo
You might want to know what it was like to have been Alans' son.
We all know how hard he had it growing up. Having to sleep on the living room couch, having to fend for himself on tough New York City streets as the child of an immigrant during the depression years.
He would not have wimps as boy children. So he taught us to scubadive. His son Bushy and his stepson yours truly. Well we were definitely beginners, still trying to empty our masks at 40 feet. But like (very) young men we of course stayed under the longest, enjoying the colors, the fish, while trying to empty our masks. Finally being the older and more experienced I looked at my watch once more and noticed that we had 5 minutes left.
I gave the signal to my brother to make our way up to the boat. We looked up and gosh; lo and behold a ten-foot shark was circling the boat. We looked at each other, at the shark, at each other, I tried for the umpteenth time to clear my mask, looked at my watch, (a recent gift from Alan, went down to 100 feet!). Four minutes of air left. Being the older I motioned us to wait. We had about 2 minutes. It seemed to be getting colder and colder by the second. Finally with my mask full of water I motioned that we should go up. With me as the leader we went right for the boat, no fear. Got to the boat, tried to climb in, but couldn't, something big and heavy jumped on top of my back. At first I thought it was the shark but in relief I quickly realized it was my little brother, using me as a ladder to fly into the boat. Finally I struggled into the boat, legs kicking, total fear.
I mentioned to dad that there was a shark circling the boat. He said he knew, and that he was cleaning some fish, throwing the entrails in the water. Mmmm fresh Red Snapper for dinner. No wimps here.
Hi Lisa, Allison and Alan Jr.,
I was honored to know Alan and call him a friend. He was a great supporter of the Pepsi Skywriter program and of Steve and me. I was touched when Pepsi asked me to do a skywriten message to be used in the tribute to him at the bottler convention. Alan knows what a skywriter need for the best sign and apparently worked some magic. The skies were crystal clear and the visibility unlimited. When I wrote THANKS ALAN in the skies over Terre Haute, IN the message was seen for over 30 miles. Of course since skywriting is seldom seen and when it is it is usually “PEPSI” the community was abuzz, “Who is Alan”? was the question posed to all the local media. Fun for us because we were able to tell them a little bit of Alan’s story. We did 3 TV interviews (Fox, NBC Sept 12 and CBS Sept.13) and I will put the link here to the news paper article that ran Sept 13th.
Terre Haute News, Terre Haute, Indiana- TribStar.com - CHECK IT OUT: Terre Haute Air Fair 2007 starts Saturday
The original Pepsi Skywriter that Alan and Jack Strayer found and returned it to its skywriting career was donated by Pepsi in 2000 to the national air and space museum. It is hanging proudly in the Steven F. Udvar Hazy center at the Dulles airport. The “story board” that tells the history of the plane gives Alan credit for reviving the skywriter program. So if you are ever there be sure to check it out!
Blue Skies Always,
Suzanne Asbury-Oliver & Steve Oliver
WE ALWAYS REFERRED TO EACH OTHER AS AP AND DM. IT STARTED WHEN I MET HIM ON HIS 22ND BIRTHDAY IN THE OFFICES OF A DALLAS OILMAN. THE OILMAN WAS BUILDING A TOY CALLED KBTV WHICH WAS TO BE DALLAS' 2ND TELEVISION STATION IN AUGUST OF '49. AP WAS TO BE THE TV DIRECTOR AND I THE ANNOUNCER. WE HIT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY AND WENT OUT AND GOT AN APARTMENT TOGETHER A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE NEW BUILDING COMPLETE WITH GIANT TOWER OUTSIDE THE DOOR, IN A TIME WHEN NOBODY GAVE A THOUGHT ABOUT 2 GUYS SHARING AN APARTMENT. BEFORE THE STATION WENT ON THE AIR, WE LAID LINOLEUM IN THE STUDIO, PAINTED SETS AND PUSHED FURNITURE AROUND AND BECAME LIFELONG
FRIENDS. OUR EXPERIENCES IN DALLAS BEFORE WE PULLED UP STAKES IN THE
SPRING OF '51 CANNOT BE REPEATED HERE WITHOUT GREAT CAUTION SO I'LL JUST
SAY IT WAS THE GREATEST TIME OF MY LIFE. I MISS HIM DEEPLY.
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