Gary Cohen

I had the privilege of working with Roy Grace for 10 years—during the Grace & Rothschild era. I’ve never laughed so much in my career, learned so much in my craft, and respected a man so much in my life. Roy was my mentor, often my partner, and always my friend. I think most of us who worked at G&R over the years would agree about what made Roy so unique. Genius and human decency were interwoven in his DNA. A rare combination in an ad man. In the ad business. Or any business for that matter.

When it comes to Roy, stories abound.

He could deliver a critique that was far more inventive than the work itself. I remember a particular instance when I was having a hard time coming up with an idea for a Range Rover dealer ad. Must have presented 10 times. And 10 times, the magic just wasn’t there. “I must be jinxed” I said to Roy. “Gary, at this point, you’ve run out of jinx”, he responded. We laughed and eventually an idea emerged. Another instance when I was stuck on an ad, I was at the point when anything Roy said I thought was a great idea. I was fishing. He knew it. “Gary, if I said blubber rolls uphill, you’d like it” Roy quipped. Laughter ensued. Including my own.

In meetings, when I said something stupid, Roy would kick my leg under the conference room table. I was going to surprise him once by wearing a shin guard under my pant leg. I never got around to it but I think it would have brought a smile to his face. After all, so many things did.

Roy was drawn to laughter like an iron filing to a magnet. Wherever people were laughing, he would show up in a matter of seconds.

Both he and Diane had an open door policy at the office. With few exceptions. One accountant had a bad habit of barging in on us while we were working. Roy said that the accountant’s extension cord should be shortened by about 20 feet.

I think I speak for everyone that worked at G&R when I say that Roy was beloved and we were so lucky that, of all the years we could have been born, and all the places we could have worked, our lives and careers happened to coincide with his.

While looking through art directors’ portfolios, he often said he was waiting for the next Gary Goldsmith to walk into his office. Not a day goes by when I don’t wish—if only for one more time— Roy Grace would walk back into mine.

-Gary Cohen 
ACD/writer
Grace & Rothschild 1990-2000