LISA GRUNWALD ADLER

I was going through some of my father's letters yesterday, and I found this note:

"Lisa: Starting a poem with 'And' is an affectionation vaguely derived from Eliot. I used to do it too in my brief poetry-writing phase, so I don't blame you in the least. But it should be avoided. 'Catch you there' is vague: Where? The last line, with its double negative, is a little weak."

I was eleven.

My father was my first, my best, and my most demanding teacher.

As many of you know all too well, he had limited tolerance for incompetence and none at all for indolence.

But like all great teachers, he communicated an absolute certainty—it was actually something more like regal entitlement—that you would rise to his level, catch the reference, remember the quote, know the capital city, make the deadline, get the point.

I think he not only believed that perfection was possible, but that on some level it was immoral not to attempt it.

He taught me about writing. Sitting in the tall-backed chair in his study, whatever pages I'd offered laid out like a meal in front of him, he taught me to hate split infinitives, mixed metaphors, "impact" as a verb, all euphemisms for "died," and all clichés. I am told that in the margin beside the word "cummerbund" in a Time story, he once scrawled, "Another word, please."

He taught me about love. Talking on the phone at the end of a particularly painful relationship, I asked him pathetically why the guy didn't love me, and I can hear him saying, "Darling. Love has nothing to do with worth. Love is an accident." He himself was lucky enough to have been involved in two very different but equally spectacular such accidents.

He taught me about courage. First his loss of vision and then his illness inevitably reshaped his world. He was tenacious and he was stoic. "One has to push back.," he said, and in the end, after a lifetime of asking the most brilliant, most penetrating, and most insightful questions, he knew exactly what questions not to ask. That may have taken the most courage of all.

By example, he taught me about kindness and courtliness and grace. Birthdays required presents, Valentine's Days required flowers, and milestones required raised glasses and benedictions. I can't imagine I will ever hear a better toast than the ones he gave, or see a fedora worn with more style, or a pair of eyes that could twinkle with such kindness and wisdom and mirth. The day before he died, he reached out to kiss my hand and my sister's. I can't imagine a more beautiful gesture. You could almost hear the waltz.

Some months ago, I dreamed I was writing my father's eulogy. Not that surprising, given the state of his health. What was even less surprising is that, in the dream, he was editing it.

That turns out to have been somewhat prophetic, because in fact he left some instructions for today's gathering. He had them in his computer under the file name "Exit."

He told us that he wanted a rabbi to officiate, and he listed
the music he wanted, which you've just heard, and he
added: "Given my deep gratitude to the U.S. there should
also be an American note; I realize that the "Battle Hymn
of the Republic" may be considered too Christian in a
Jewish framework, but I am confident that in some way
this difficulty will be overcome." As you'll see in a
moment, it was.

My father wrote: "I am not particularly looking forward to
this party, and I hope it will prove to be fairly distant.
There is so much I would still like to do and experience.
But I have no complaints. I've had a most fortunate life."

Of course he wasn't looking forward to this party—and
certainly neither were we—but he would have been
delighted and moved that all of you were here, and on
behalf of my family, I want to thank you for coming.

Remarks at Funeral Service for Henry Grunwald

March 1, 2005

Henry A. Kissinger

Henry Grunwald became managing editor of *Time* at almost the exact moment that I entered government service. We had been shaped by parallel experiences. For the refugees from Nazi tyranny, the 1960s in America were a particularly complicated period. We had experienced what most Americans must learn: how much America meant to the oppressed and the desperate. We therefore felt a special responsibility in encouraging America's possibilities as America tormented itself over its role in the world and its worthiness to fulfill it.

In that firestorm, Henry and I from time to time found ourselves on opposite sides. It did not affect our friendship; in a curious way, it deepened it. This was the time when journalism moved from reporting into investigating, from recording events to insisting on a role in shaping them. Henry presided over that transition at *Time* with wisdom, restraint, and magnanimity. At a moment when technology was enabling the public to become spectators of contemporary events in real time, he saw his role as disciplining the multiplying flood of information into knowledge, and knowledge into insight. Henry viewed the interaction of government and journalism as a symbiotic effort in which each side, by being true to its best values, served the future of freedom. Because I considered Henry a kind of conscience, his approval – not an everyday occurrence – eased uncertainties, and his differences demanded self-examination.

We remained good friends for all the decades since. Debonair, charming, warm-hearted, Henry was a wonderful conversationalist with a deep sense of history. He was proud of his children, and he adored Louise, who gave new meaning to the final phase of his life. It was fun to go to a Grunwald dinner party and watch the old master editor at work, drawing out his guests and steering the conversation into the shoals of good-natured controversy. The qualities I most associate with Henry are dignity and wisdom.

2

We met for the last time two weeks ago at Henry and Louise's apartment for dinner with our wives. Henry was frail and pensive and yet intellectually as vital as ever. At one point, I said that I admired the serenity with which he had handled his near blindness and that I did not think I could have managed it. "No," Henry said firmly, "you could have."

I have reflected since how much Henry's friendship ennobled those whose lives he touched and how often at crucial moments he sustained the courage to do what was necessary.

421 WORDS

2/28/05-#2

Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

Henry Grunwald became managing editor of *Time* at almost the exact moment that I entered government service. We had been shaped by parallel experiences. For the refugees from Nazi tyranny, the 1960s in America were a particularly complicated period. We had experienced what most Americans must learn: how much America meant to the oppressed and the desperate. We therefore felt a special responsibility in dealing with the torment as America anguished over its role in the world and its worthiness to fulfill it.

2

into investigating, from recording events to insisting on a role in
shaping them. Henry presided over that transition at *Time* with
wisdom, restraint, and magnanimity. At a moment when technology
was increasingly transforming the public into spectators of events in
real time, he saw his role not simply to assemble the multiplying flood
of information but to move it across the threshold that spells
knowledge and insight. Henry did not view the interaction of
government and journalism as inherently confrontational but as a
symbiotic effort in which each side, being true to its values, served the
future of freedom. His impact was all the greater because when Henry
differed as a conscience, it was never as a committed adversary.

We remained good friends for all the decades since. Debonair,
charming, warm-hearted, Henry was a wonderful conversationalist
with a deep sense of history. His concern for the future of our country

3

and of free peoples remained a constant. It was fun to go to a
Grunwald dinner party and watch the old master editor at work,
drawing out his guests and steering the conversation into the shoals of
good-natured controversy. The words I most associate with Henry are
dignity and wisdom.

We met for the last time two weeks ago at Henry and Louise's
apartment for dinner with our wives. Henry was frail and pensive and
yet as intellectually vital as ever. At one point, I said that I admired
the serenity with which he had handled his near blindness and that I
did not think I could have managed it. "No," Henry said firmly, "you
could have."

FEB-28-2005 11:03

KAI

212 759 0042

P.01

421 WORDS

2/27/05

Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

Henry
I always had a special feeling for Henry Grunwald that became
managing editor of *Time* at almost the exact moment that I entered
government service. The nature of the two professions caused our
lives to intersect. And we had been formed by parallel experiences.
For the refugees from Nazi tyranny, the 1960s were a particularly
complicated period. We had experienced what most Americans *must*
learn: how much America meant to the oppressed and the desperate.
We therefore felt acutely the torment as America anguished over its
role in the world and its worthiness to fulfill it.

FEB-28-2005 11:03

KAI

212 759 0042

3

We remained good friends for all the decades since. Debonair,
charming, warm-hearted, Henry was a wonderful conversationalist.

of free people remained a question.

never diminished. It was fun to [go to a Grunwald dinner party] and

[watch] the old master editor at work, drawing out his guests and

steering the conversation into the shoals of controversy. The media met
[most associate with Henry] as depoperty of the time.

good natured.

Henry is depoperty of the time.

We met for the last time two weeks ago at [Henry and Louise's apartment for] dinner with our wives. Henry was frail and pensive

and get as near.

[but] intellectually vital. At one point, I said that I admired the
serenity with which he had handled his near blindness and that I did
not think I could have managed it. "No," Henry said firmly, "you could
have."

408 WORDS

2/28/05-FINAL

# Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

Henry Grunwald became managing editor of *Time* at almost the exact moment that I entered government service. We had been shaped by parallel experiences. For the refugees from Nazi tyranny, the 1960s in America were a particularly complicated period. We had experienced what most Americans must learn: how much America meant to the *oppressed and the desolate*. We therefore felt a *surviving America's* *proudly special* responsibility in dealing with the *torment as*

2

3

transforming the multiplying flood of information into knowledge, and knowledge into insight. Henry viewed the interaction of government and journalism as a symbiotic effort in which each side, by being true to its values, served the future of freedom. Because I considered Henry a kind of conscience, his approval – not an everyday occurrence – eased uncertainties, and his differences demanded self-examination.

We remained good friends for all the decades since. Debonair, charming, warm-hearted, Henry was a wonderful conversationalist with a deep sense of history. His concern for the future of our country and

5

408 WORDS

2/28/05-FINAL

# Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

2

3

4

5

407 WORDS

2/28/05-#4

With edits

# Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

2

into investigating, from recording events to insisting on a role in
shaping them. Henry presided over that transition at *Time* with
wisdom, restraint, and magnanimity. At a moment when technology
was *enabling* the public into spectators of contemporary events in
real time, he saw his role [as] transforming the multiplying flood of
information into knowledge, and knowledge into insight. Henry viewed
the interaction of government and journalism as a symbiotic effort in
which each side, by being true to its values, served the future of
freedom. Because I considered Henry a kind of conscience, his
approval – not an everyday occurrence – eased uncertainties, and his
differences demanded self-examination.

3

I have reflected since how much Henry's friendship ennoble
those whose lives he touched and how often at crucial moments he
sustained the courage to do what was necessary.

407 WORDS

2/28/05-#4

# Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

2

[Y]

into investigating, from recording events to insisting on a role in
shaping them. Henry presided over that transition at *Time* with
wisdom, restraint, and magnanimity. At a moment when technology
was transforming the public into spectators of contemporary events in
real time, he saw his role [as] transforming the multiplying flood of
information into knowledge, and knowledge into insight. Henry viewed
the interaction of government and journalism as a symbiotic effort in
which each side, by being true to its values, served the future of
freedom. Because I considered Henry a kind of conscience, his
approval – not an everyday occurrence – eased uncertainties, and his
differences demanded self-examination.

3

411 WORDS

2/28/05-#3

With edits

# Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

3

411 WORDS

2/28/05-#3

# Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

2

into investigating, from recording events to insisting on a role in
shaping them. Henry presided over that transition at *Time* with
wisdom, restraint, and magnanimity. At a moment when technology
was transforming the public into spectators of contemporary events in
real time, he saw his role not simply to assemble the multiplying flood
of information but to move it across the threshold that spells
knowledge and insight. Henry viewed the interaction of government
and journalism as a symbiotic effort in which each side, being true to
its values, served the future of freedom. His impact was all the
greater because I regarded Henry as a conscience, never as a
committed adversary.

3

421 WORDS

2/28/05-#2

With changes

Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

2

into investigating, from recording events to insisting on a role in
shaping them. Henry presided over that transition at *Time* with
wisdom, restraint, and magnanimity. At a moment when technology
was *increasingly* transforming the public into spectators of events in
real time, he saw his role not simply to assemble the multiplying flood
of information but to move it across the threshold that spells
knowledge and insight. Henry did not view the interaction of
government and journalism as inherently confrontational but as a
symbiotic effort in which each side, being true to its values, served the
future of freedom. His impact was all the greater because when Henry's time
was *that of*, because I regarded Henry as a
differed as a conscience, it was never as a committed adversary.

TOTAL P.03

3

421 WORDS

2/28/05-#2

# Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

2

TOTAL P.03

3

421 WORDS

2/27/05

Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

I always had a special feeling for Henry Grunwald. He became managing editor of *Time* at almost the exact moment that I [entered] government service. The nature of [the two professions caused] our lives [to intersect]. And we had been formed by parallel experiences.

For the refugees from Nazi tyranny, the 1960s were a particularly
complicated period. We had experienced what most Americans [must]

02/27/05 08:37pm P. 001

703 9414072

JODY WILLIAMS

3

We remained good friends for all the decades since. Debonair, charming, warm-hearted, Henry was a wonderful conversationalist with a deep sense of history. His concern for the future of our country >> of free people remained a constant. It was fun to [go to a Grunwald dinner party] and never diminished.

[watch] the old master editor at work, drawing out his guests and steering the conversation into the shoals of controversy. The words meet associate with Henry are drop of water in a sea of controversy.

We met for the last time two weeks ago at [Henry and Louise's apartment for] dinner with our wives. Henry was frail and pensive and yet as ever. [but] intellectually vital. At one point, I said that I admired the serenity with which he had handled his near blindness and that I did not think I could have managed it. "No," Henry said firmly, "you could have."

02/27/05 08:37pm P. 003

703 9414072

JODY WILLIAMS

421 WORDS

2/27/05

Eulogy for Henry Grunwald

I always had a special feeling for Henry Grunwald. He became managing editor of *Time* at almost the exact moment that I [entered] government service. The nature of [the two professions caused] our lives [to] intersect. And we had been formed by parallel experiences. For the refugees from Nazi tyranny, the 1960s were a particularly complicated period. We had experienced what most Americans [must] learn: how much America meant to the oppressed and the desperate. We therefore felt acutely the torment as America anguished over its role in the world and its worthiness to fulfill it.

deepened it. This was the time when journalism moved from reporting
to investigating, from recording events to demanding a role in shaping
them. Henry presided over that transition at *Time* with wisdom,
restraint, and magnanimity. At a moment when technology was
increasingly transforming the public into spectators in real time, he
understood that his role was not simply to assemble information but to
move the multiplying flood of news across the threshold that spells
knowledge. Encounters [between] Henry and his editors were
therefore seminars in mutual education. He did not view the
interaction of government and journalism as inherently confrontational
but as a parallel effort to enlighten the country. Henry was always
respectful but also rigorous in insisting on his standards. The concept
of "spinning," which did not yet exist, would have been defeated by his
integrity.

JODY WILLIAMS

703 9414072

02/27/05 08:37pm P. 005

3

We remained good friends for all the decades since. Debonair, charming, warm-hearted, Henry was a wonderful conversationalist with a deep sense of history. His concern for the future of our country never diminished. It was fun to [go to a Grunwald dinner party] and [watch] the old master editor at work, drawing out his guests and steering the conversation into the shoals of controversy.

We met for the last time two weeks ago at [Henry and Louise's apartment for] dinner with our wives. Henry was frail and pensive [but] intellectually vital. At one point, I said that I admired the serenity with which he had handled his near blindness and that I did not think I could have managed it. "No," Henry said firmly, "you could have."

02/27/05 08:37pm P. 007

703 9414072

JODY WILLIAMS

The New York Times > AP > National > Time Magazine Editor Grunwald Dies at 82

Page 1 of 2

The New York Times
nytimes.com

PRINTERS-FRIENDLY FORMAT
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February 27, 2005

# Time Magazine Editor Grunwald Dies at 82

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 12:31 p.m. ET

NEW YORK (AP) -- Henry A. Grunwald, a Time magazine editor who led the publication's shift from conservatism to a more centrist view before becoming a United States ambassador to Vienna, has died. He was 82.

Grunwald died of heart failure Saturday at his Manhattan home, according to his daughter, Mandy.

During his tenure as managing editor at Time, Grunwald began to give writers bylines and introduced new departments including Behavior, Energy, the Sexes, Economy and Dance. He ordered up Time's 1966 cover asking the question ``Is God Dead?''

Before being named to the position in 1968, Grunwald had been a writer, senior editor and foreign editor at the magazine. His role in shaping Time was perhaps second only to that of founding editor Henry R. Luce.

He ``moved the magazine away from partisanship and strengthened the independence of its voice in national and world affairs,'' Time editor in chief Norman Pearlstine said in a letter to readers that appears in the issue of the magazine out Monday.

One of the most noted items of Grunwald's tenure was when he personally wrote Time's editorial during the Watergate scandal asking President Richard Nixon to resign.

``The nightmare of uncertainty must be ended,'' he wrote in a Nov. 12, 1973 editorial. ``A fresh start must be made. Some at home and abroad might see in the president's resignation a sign of American weakness and failure. It would be a sign of the very opposite.''

Nixon resigned in 1974.

After serving 11 years as managing editor, Grunwald served as editor-in-chief of all Time Inc. publications-- including Fortune, Sports Illustrated, People and Money -- until retirement in 1987.

He was appointed U.S. ambassador to Austria, the country of his birth, by President Reagan and served in that post from 1988 to 1990.

Grunwald was born in 1922, and his family fled Nazi-occupied Austria for the United States when he was a teenager. His father was a librettist in Vienna who failed to find a foothold in American show business.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Obit-Grunwald.html?pagewanted=print&p... 2/28/2005

Page 2 of 2

Grunwald himself had early ambitions to be a playwright but got a job as a copy boy at Time while a student at New York University and stayed there for his entire career.

Grunwald penned a 1997 autobiography, ``One Man's America: A Journalist's Search for the Heart of His Country,'' and a 1999 memoir about losing his sight due to macular degeneration, ``Twilight: Losing Sight, Gaining Insight.'' His first novel, the critically praised ``A Saint, More or Less,'' was published in 2003.

Grunwald was in the process of writing a book on defibrillators -- a project that he began after the technology saved his life last year. Pearlstine said it was in Grunwald's character to treat difficulties ``as opportunities.''

Pearlstine recounted that last year, after the cardiac episode, Grunwald's daughter Lisa told him he must have survived because he wanted to accomplish something else. No, Grunwald said, he just loved living.

``He did it very well,'' Pearlstine said. ``He left us with warm memories and the challenge of living up to his legacy.''

As a young man, Grunwald immersed himself in American culture doing everything from spending his free time watching movies on 42nd Street, to taking a lengthy trip to the Midwest in order to better understand his new country.

In addition to his daughter, Grunwald is survived by his wife, Louise Melhado, a son, a daughter, a stepson and four grandchildren. His first wife, Beverly Suser, died in 1981.

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