Howard Lelchuk, Senior Vice President, Executive Media Director of McCann Relationship Marketing (MRM) Partners, died Aug. 27 of cancer. He was 61.
Lelchuk’s agency career began at Fuller & Smith & Ross, where he started in the mailroom. He held positions at NW Ayer, BBDO, Kenyon & Eckhardt, and OgilvyOne, before joining MRM Partners.
During his 30-plus year agency career, he was recognized by Response TV magazine as one of the Top 25 people in the direct response television industry. He was a member of the Direct Marketing Association’s Privacy and Ethics Committees; Chairman of the AAAA Direct Response Media Committee; and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the BPA International.
"Howard’s arrival at MRM Partners in 1998 as Executive Media Director immediately elevated the agency’s overall strategic, technological and tactical capabilities, especially in media. He was that good," said Pam Larrick, president and CEO of MRM Partners Worldwide, in a statement.
Larrick continued, "Howard’s skills spanned both the professional and the personal. He was a wise and thoughtful person, always willing and eager to give his all. This giving nature led him to develop and nurture many wonderful friendships over the years."
Lori-Ann Capitelli, vice president, broadcast director at MRM Partners New York remembered Lelchuk as someone who exemplified leadership. "He was always proud of our achievements as if they were his own. He would be the first one to push us to excel."
Capitelli recalled a conversation she had with Lelchuk after their first year of working together, toward the end of 1999.
"He sat back in his chair and said, ‘Tell me, what is the secret to your success?’
"I gave all the right answers in terms of the day to day business. We work hard, we are determined. But the truth be told, it was his guidance, leadership and knowledge that was the secret to my success.
"His guidance is the secret to this department’s success then and now."
Lelchuk will be memorialized by his professional colleagues on October 15, 2001 at 12:30 pm at The Chapel at 777 United Nations Plaza. The memorial service at the non-denominational UN Chapel (44th Street and 1st Avenue) will include speeches from several leaders of the New York direct and relationship marketing community.
His survivors include his wife, Susan, daughters Melissa Benjamin and Robin Schuster, and father, Jules.
