A Void That Can’t Be Filled

By Lindsey Pizzica Rotolo

As impossible as it was to imagine anything, even cancer, having its way with Lloyd Garrison, it did. His indomitable spirit fought that beast for longer than most could. A true fighter, Lloyd attended Norfolk Now story conferences and executive editor meetings right up until his final hospitalization.

The last email the editors received from Lloyd was a perfect example of the level of commitment he had to this paper. Eleven days before he drew his last breath, he took the time to send us his comments on the June issue…“The last issue of the paper was one of the best yet…One caveat: I have to wonder what happened to the caption on page one.” Only Lloyd. Even on his deathbed, he took the time to mentor.

To say that everyone at Norfolk Now learned so much from Lloyd is trite, but accurate. He is an integral part of our writing and editing process. He has always been in our heads as we write and edit issues of Norfolk Now, and always will be. His death is a profound loss for all of us, a void that will never be filled.

When reflecting on our mentor, various personality traits come to mind, but first and foremost, his charm. Our newest executive editor, Ruth Melville, was initially invited by Lloyd to a story conference. “Just for fun, just to see how they pick the articles,” Lloyd assured her. Harmless, she thought. A couple months later, Lloyd turned up at her house insisting she try editing an issue of the paper. Like the rest of us, Ruth offered plenty of objections, but he just would not accept any of them. It was literally impossible to say no to the man.

Colleen Gundlach, who has the longest tenure of today’s executive editors, recalls meeting Lloyd for the first time over a decade ago when he came to visit her husband in the hospital after surgery. As they sat and talked, Lloyd discovered that Colleen had worked as a reporter for the Register Citizen. When he stood to leave, Lloyd invited her to walk him to his car. By the time they reached the lobby, she had accepted her first writing assignment for Norfolk Now.

His determination, persistence and perfectionism were unparalleled. All the editors recall numerous occasions when it was the final hour before the paper had to go to the printer, and Lloyd would call… “So the page three story needs to be on the cover with that wonderful photo of Bruce’s, and the page one story should be cut by about 150 words…” And so on. As maddening as it was to go back to the drawing board when you thought you were finally finished with the paper, Lloyd’s suggestions always greatly improved the final product.

He was born to be a journalist – he was a great writer, and a wonderful editor. Wiley Wood recalls the palpability of Lloyd’s delight in a well-turned phrase. “Like silk off a spool,” Lloyd would say, and you knew you’d hit it right. At other times, he would take a text you felt to be rock solid and, with a few decisive strokes, reveal just how much flab was hidden there. He never tightened up a piece without making you look better.

Perhaps the hardest part about losing Lloyd is accepting that such a youthful spirit has been extinguished. The week before he turned 80, Lloyd stopped by my office to inquire about an upcoming interview and, uncharacteristically, shared a personal story and mentioned his upcoming milestone. I was shocked. What 80-year-old could dance like that? Ski like that? Stay up that late to edit the third round of editions of Norfolk Now? Only Lloyd.

He respected our thoughts and visions for the paper, and knew when it was time to let us run with his “baby.” He stepped down as president of the board of directors and the executive editor position in 2008, insisting that there was need for new blood. “Any publication requires a regular infusion of fresh ideas, talent and enthusiasm.” Six years later, in his final email to the executive editors, he said, “Your varied contributions over the years continue to move me and I pray that you will come together in renewed support of the life and growth of the paper.”

While we will never find another to rival Lloyd’s talent and enthusiasm, we will certainly honor his last request.