Remembering Anthony P. (Tony) Zecca

Tony Zecca was an absolute trailblazer.
In fact, in Philadelphia he was a public relations pioneer. 
Zecca was one of the first public relations practitioners to direct PR for a major municipal entity. The year was 1953. The Mayor was legendary Philadelphia reformer Richardson Dilworth. When Dilworth decided that he needed a Public Relations director, he turned to Zecca, a former wire service reporter who had the distinction of covering three political conventions in the city in 1948.
Zecca was the right man for the job -- and not just because he scored the highest of numerous applicants on the civil service exam. Zecca was quick. He was street-smart. He was loyal, yes. But he was also a total pro. He had good judgment and was an adept multi-tasker long before anyone even knew what the term meant.
Over the course of 23 years in city government Zecca worked for several Philadelphia mayors but he is best remembered as the spokesman, wordsmith and ever-president confidante to Mayor Frank Rizzo, one of the most colorful characters in Philadelphia's rich history.
As Deputy Mayor to Rizzo, Zecca was the guy who who worked his butt off to try to make sure that the rough-hewn Rizzo looked, talked and acted like a mayor. But he was also the guy who had to repair the damage when the Big Bambino didn't live up to the expectations of his most trusted loyalists. Along the way, once in awhile Zecca doubtless had to learn to simply "let Rizzo be Rizzo."
In the end it Zecca who was with Rizzo on the day he died in July 1991. Rizzo was seeking a dramatic return to the mayor's office when Zecca found the former Police Commissioner dead on the floor in the bathroom of his campaign office. Rizzo suffered a massive heart attack.
That day brought to an end a significant portion of Tony Zecca's career. And Zecca always maintained that an important part of Philadelphia died as well when Frank Rizzo passed on.
Today, we mourn the passing of  Anthony P. Zecca, a fellow member of the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame who died Sunday.
Tony Zecca was born in Philadelphia to Italian immigrants Giacomo Zecca, who built boats and planes at the Naval Shipyard, and Nevicella Zecca.
He grew up at 18th and Mifflin streets and graduated from South Philadelphia High School. He went on to Temple University, where he became editor of the Temple News.
He went to work for the old International News Service, and covered the 1948 Democratic, Republican and Progressive Party political conventions, all held in Philadelphia.
We extend our condolences to his son Mark, his daughter Adrienne and the entire family.
Those of us who follow in the footsteps of Tony Zecca are honored to do so.

Read More...

Remembering Shelley Picker

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Shelley Picker -- a friend, colleague and one of the kindest, most talented, most gracious people we've ever met.
A member of the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, Shelley served as President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association and spent a large part of her professional life as a successful and highly-respected PR practitioner in the Philadelphia region. She represented an impressive number of  corporations and non-profits and gained a reputation as a savvy businesswoman, a generous and helpful colleague and an accomplished wordsmith. It's no secret that the PR practice can be rough and hugely competitive. But Shelley managed to succeed without the sort of pugnacity that characterizes so many others in the business. She competed with the best of them (and often bested them) with an a smile and a warmth that made her widely admired not just by her colleague but by all who knew her.
Shelley Picker was always interested in art. Indeed, she drew and painted all her life.
After receiving her training in oils and acrylics at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, she expanded her work to include fabric wall hangings. During this time, she was a studio artist, taught art and showed her work extensively throughout the country in galleries and museums.
She served as the President of Artist Equity and was an advocate for the rights of artists regarding safety issues and gallery relationships. She also served on the Board of Collab, (the design section of the Philadelphia Art Museum) and worked as a consultant for the Museum. And she served on the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society, and was a Signature Member of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society and the Baltimore Watercolor Society.
In the 1990's, Shelley began to focus her energies on watercolors. Her floral and garden paintings proved to be remarkably captivating. And, her career as an artist flourished.
She exhibited her work extensively  in galleries and museums, (both juried and group shows) and her work was acquired by corporate and private collections.
Here's what Shelley had to say about this:

I touch the paper with color and sometimes magic happens.
Water and paint – mixing, floating, moving, blending, sparkling, creating shapes and images. Each color is special; each reacting in its own way, some transparent or staining, others opaque or granulated, that's what makes the watercolor medium come alive for me.
Sometimes I work very close to a painting for many hours only to raise my head and feel like only minutes have passed. I back away and am surprised to see a new and different painting.
Whenever I work outside, direct from nature, I revel in it. The sky is always a wonder to me. The sparkling sun filters through the trees, always creating wonderful rich darks – deep and mysterious. The light shines through the petals of my favorite flowers creating lights and mid-tones, shifting the shapes and changing the petal structure. The environment speaks to me and always makes me smile.
Watercolor has turned out to be a perfect match - a love match.

Shelley never acknowledged it, but the "magic" that she said merely "happens" didn't just happen.
It came from her.
And she shared it with her wonderful family, her colleagues and all us who were fortunate enough to know her. While she saw the light shining through in nature, we saw the light shining through in her. And we were inspired and strengthened by it.
She will be greatly missed. But we are greatly comforted by the example of her life and her rich artistic legacy.
Our deepest sympathies are extended to her husband Ben, her children and her entire family.
Funeral services are set for tomorrow, Friday, at 1 p.m. at Levine’s at 7112 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia.

Read More...