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| Larry Adamo | |
Larry Adamo, longtime senior sales representative for Abrams in New York City, died on February 19. He was 82.
Abrams wrote in part, "Larry was beloved and respected for his wit, wisdom, and most of all his passion for our books. He loved illustrated books and art--he was a lifelong painter--and happily passed on his knowledge to subsequent generations of colleagues in sales and other departments at Abrams. Remembered fondly for his non sequiturs and unique sense of humor, Larry will be missed by all of us and by his customers....
"Larry's enthusiasm for books and art made him well respected in the industry. In tribute to Larry, Brian Eskenazi, Publisher, Riverside Book Company, Inc. recalled that, 'Lawrence (as he preferred to be called) cared most of all about the material in the books. As an amateur painter of no small talent, it was fitting that he worked for an art book publisher though he had the same attitude earlier in his career when he worked for a house that published literature and philosophy. Lawrence was a bit of a throw-back in an 'Old World' kind of way--somewhat formal in dress--though he was the opposite of stuffy. It was his way of showing respect for people and matters of substance. He made friends easily, with different kinds of people. He loved art and held Donatello and Masaccio in special esteem and felt the same for Italian cinema and Italian automobiles... and don't forget a double espresso, with a bit of milk on the side, if you please.' "
His family remembered, "His life was filled with conversation, creating artwork full of texture and color, and enjoying life in a small town. He was a man who knew the baker and butcher by name. He was genuinely interested in hearing about other people's lives and chatted with everyone he met. He loved books and the worlds to which they could transport you. He had a braintrust of knowledge regarding Italian cars. He loved the jazz music of Bix Beiderbecke and of classical composers. Larry did not own a cell phone. He eschewed technology and used e-mail grudgingly. He was a gentleman for whom a good cup of coffee and a slice of panettone was a ritual to be slowly and intentionally enjoyed. He had an elegant soul....
"At heart, Larry was an artist. He never stopped sketching and painting or meeting new people. His travels led him to meet and form a deep friendship with a Hungarian Countess, Catherine Karolyi, and the Michael Karolyi Artist Foundation in Vence, France. A seven-acre artist colony sheltered under olive groves and fruit trees, where Larry found a sanctuary that fed his love of conversation, his passion for painting, and the beauty in his soul."