This colorful necktie tells a story about the man to whom it is attached.
Frank retired as CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital last year, where he was known for his uncanny ability to remember people’s names and details about their lives. That’s a handy skill for someone who seemed to show up at just about every public event in town.
Then there are the holiday neckties–another Frank trademark. Exactly how many does he own? Nobody is certain, but you’d be hard-pressed to find him wearing the same one twice between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
One year into retirement, most of Frank’s neckties are gathering dust. They (and he) have earned a rest. But for today’s holiday party, Frank reached deep into the closet to reprise this tradition. True to form, he greeted people by name, inquired about their families and their jobs, and regaled fellow guests with stories.
Honestly, he didn’t need the name tag. We would’ve recognized him by his smile, his sincerity, and his necktie.
Great post! Always enjoyed participating in the annual Christmas tie-off with Frank every year. And I had the pleasure of seeing people’s faces light up time and again when Frank would stop and talk to them in the hallways of St. Mary’s and not only remember their name, but something special about them and then proceed to make them feel as if they were the most important thing in the world to him that day. It’s a quality few people possess and it’s one of Frank’s greatest traits.