Fritz Rentschler; CEO of Hunt-Wesson and Beatrice Foods: A Man of All Seasons

Sometimes there are people who leave finger prints on your soul. One such man who left a fingerprint on my soul was Frederick Brant Rentschler who passed last week in Scottsdale.

Henry Kravits of KKR introduced us as he was taking the reins over at Beatrice; the first leverage buyout. He told me that Fritz knew a lot about branding and sauces having run Hunt-Wesson. He told Fritz that there was someone he should meet (and by the way, she has sauces).

Rentschler, president of his class, earned his bachelor degree in economics and history from Vanderbilt in 1961 and went on to Harvard University, where he earned his MBA. Fritz was a Marine, former president and CEO of Northwest Airlines, Beatrice Co., Beatrice US Foods, Hunt-Wesson, Inc., and Armour-Dial. After his retirement in 1991, he married a gal from Scottsdale, owned and oversaw the Corral Creek Ranch, a working cattle ranch in Cameron, Montana and served on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the Heard Museum of Phoenix, Arizona, and the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California.

Fritz loved my BBQ and we built the cart of carts. He told me to go out with a rifle, not a shotgun and that my Lexington style BBQ was excellent and should be my “hero.” We put the cart on 5th Ave across from the Plaza and tested it through rain, cold, and yellow jacket attacks. We taught Yankees and foreigners about our Southern hospitality and addiction to a favorite NC food.

During that time, I also developed a tangy Asian sauce. Fritz named it “Never ‘Nuff Stuff” and said it was the best sauce he ever tasted...and that was something coming from the sauce man.

Fritz was very generous to my family, friends and even built Daddy his little medical clinic behind our Hillsborough home so he could come out of retirement. We entertained all over the world from Holland, Lake Como, Switzerland to Glen Eagles, Scotland. Excellent food and hospitality was always part of the agenda. Though we had different pulls - I was ocean and he mountains; I was East coast and he was West - I will forever be grateful for this wise, caring man and always be in gratitude. Thank you, Fritz. It was quite a journey.

Happy Father's Day

Me and my Daddy, Dr. Bob Murphy
In 1966, Daddy visited me in NYC, my chosen residence after UNC. He was a protective father and had not approved of my move. Mama was excited and said, "Oh, you must live in the Village, go to Fulton's fish market in the wee hours and have oysters at the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station."

I found a sparse and humble "basement" apartment uptown to share with a snobby Briarcliff girl on E. 67th street. It had little light and at eye level, you could watch people walking by outside. I was always imagining the "break in thief" lurking inches away just waiting for us to crack open a window without bars. (It was a hot fall).

Daddy was staying at the Algonquin Hotel, a sentimental place for him and Mom. We sipped Irish Coffee one evening and sat on old chairs in the dark wooden bar area. A resident cat found us, purred loudly and stayed to be rubbed.


The Algonquin today (source: http://www.algonquinhotel.com/); Irish coffee (source: Google Images)
Daddy kept looking at me and his gray-blue eyes grew misty. I thought he was going to do his "you are my first born" talk. (Actually, I was not the first born. There was an earlier baby named Allan, who was still born with the umbilical cord still wrapped around his neck. Even, "Iron in her blood" Mom rarely talked about this. Daddy, a pediatrician had a fetus who floated in a bottle on his desk. For years, I thought it was my brother, Allan.) No, this night, his concern was different. He simply asked if I was happy. When I replied that I was but struggling financially that "first semester" as a model, he paused...and, I will never forget what he said next: "Thank you for cutting the umbilical cord. I could not have done it myself."

Early the next morning we headed to Macy's. Daddy was going to buy me a card table and 4 chairs for the bare apartment. When he told the cab driver our destination, the cabbie replied, "That's a funny place to go on your honeymoon." Daddy just lit up that wonderful smile and said nothing. And I let him relish his moment.
Prices have changed at the Algonquin these past 46 years. There is a martini on the rocks for $10,000 now. (This includes a diamond “rock” under the olive.) The wooden bar is still there, but new chairs have replaced the old. There is a feline named Matilda, who has been the resident cat for 15 years. And I, now in Durham, still walk around with this invisible string attached from my tummy all the way to heaven and often get little tugs. You see, I never did cut mine.

Matilda, the current resident cat (source: http://www.algonquinhotel.com/)

The Journey; Memorial, Croquet & a Feast for our Beloved “Gino”

Rancho Paradiso; a home/museum on the Roaring Fork River, surrounded by 200 pieces of sculpture

Gene "Gino" Adcock; November 21, 2008



Sculptor extraordinaire, chef, mentor, master flirt, consummate host, maker of "you nique" humor, artist of life. Gone to join his beloved Jeanie

My first remembrance of Gino was about 34 years ago. He picked up Jeanne Lawrence and me in his Excalibur convertible and whisked us off to the Hollywood Bowl. Don't recall who was playing, but will never forget Gene's Chinese cellophane noodles with cucumbers and sesame seed dressing.*

Given the challenge of celebrating Gene’s life almost a year after his passing, I knew that it would have to be a “Gino” feast. This would be after the service down by the river, where we took his and Jeanie’s ashes and dropped them in the water with red and yellow roses…What a beautiful day it was. What a beautiful day it was. Listen to “Take me to the River” by Talking Heads on this link: http://rhaplinks.real.com/rhaplink?rhapid=6319293&type=playlist&title=Playlist&from=sansacliprhapid=6319293&type=playlist&title=Playlist&from=sansaclip.


Following the scattering of ashes, there was a two-hour croquet tournament. Champagne/wine was in a ice contained wheel barrow…and the feast began!

Left to right: Croquet on the lawn, Gino Antipasti Platter, Coconut Shrimp/Apple Dip Smoked Salmon with Guacamole/Ponzu Sauce


Left to right: Procuitto wrapped Asparagus, Goat Cheese, Tomato/Ginger Jam, Fig/Blue Cheese/Pecan Terrine, Giant Prawns/Spicy Cocktail Sauce

“Our sincere thanks, love, appreciation, gratitude to you for the wonderful food, meal, presentation you gave for Gene’s indescribable, special, happy/sad memorial Day. Meeting you also made it so special.”…Janet and Herb Weisbard
*Gino, an interior Designer not only had fabulous taste, but threw wonderful parties. We often gathered at his Brentwood home or Ma Maison Restaurant in Beverly Hills, where he was the ultimate host and we took cooking classes with the best chefs in California. After moving to Carbondale, Colorado, he followed his renowned sculptress wife, Jeanie, into the shaping of marble and bronze. The studio was part of their home next to the Roaring Fork River where Magpies often landed on their head.



They traveled to Italy to select their next marble, entertained with incredible style and held annually a croquet gathering and July garden party...When his dear Jeanie, passed of a second bout of breast cancer, he continued to celebrate her life, though he missed her terribly. Their art is eternal...In his last Christmas card, always hand written, were Gene's words of cheer; "Let's make sure before we leave, we are happy with the way we turned out."…So long for now and thank you for all the fun and memories!

Love always, ZM

Tribute to a dear friend; the beautiful and amazing artist Ernie Barnes

Ernie Barnes previewing "Meeting the Challenge" for Seton Hall

Breaking Bread with Ernie Barnes

Early this morning caught a late 70's rerun of "Good Times;" the TV show where the characterJJ is always with brush in hand and paints. Everything that JJ creates is an actual painting byErnie Barnes...There are many reminders of Ernie; a catering on Mother's Day for the Irwin Holmes family who have an Ernie Barnes painting of a tennis player in their kitchen and stories to tell of a lifetime friendship, a search on google now full of him since his passing on April 27th, an awesome late afternoon sky of mare tail clouds, so incredible that it brought tears to my eyes. It was an EB canvas.

I have known Ernie Barnes since the 70's when he hired me to play, what else but a cheerleader on "The Super Comedy Bowl." He and another pro football player (and formally Tarzan) Mike Henry, produced. When Ernie learned that I painted, he offered his studio in Hollywood and gave me a key. We have been friends ever since. He referred to me as his "Ace Boon Coon" and best little white friend....I have known him and wife Bernie for many years. Celebrated in Ernie's glory at Steton Hall where he painted a 6 ft. mural depicting the strong academic to the basketball court. Joined them at UNC where his mom Fannie, already in her late 90's, witnessed Ernie as he accepted a prestigious UNC Board of Governor's award...Below are just some of his many marks he made:

1966
- Appointed "Official Artist" for the American Football League
1984
- Appointed Official Sports Artist for the XXIIIrd Olympiad in Los Angeles.
1985
- Named first "Sports Artist of the Year" by the United States Sports Academy
1988
- Honoree, Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles
1990
- Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree, North Carolina Central University
1993
- Named to the "All-Time Black College Football Team" by the Sheridan Black Network
1995
- "Contributions to Humanity Award," by the United Negro College Fund
1996
- "Treasure of Los Angeles Award," by the Central City Association
1999
- "The University Award," by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors
2002
- Honoree, by the California Legislative Black Caucus
2004
- Named "America's Best Painter of Sports," by the American Sport Art Museum & Archives.
2007
- "A Tribute to Artist & NFL Alumni Ernie Barnes: His Art & Inspiration" and exhibition sponsored by the National Football League and Time Warner, Inc. at Time Warner Center, New York City.

In remembering my good times with Ernie and Bernie, so many were in breaking bread. Whether LA, NYC, Hillsborough, Durham or the banquets where his paintings were unveiled and he was presented another distinguished award, much was shared over a meal. Our last personal celebration was when I brought B and B, family and friends together at the Roberts farm in Hillsborough, where BBQ was always my theme...and Ernie loved good southern food; Brunswick Stew, Butter Beans and Corn, Black Eyed Peas, Pecan Pie. When he visited Durham, he always had to stop by Foster's Market for Sara's Mom's Bread Pudding or Foster's Key lime Pie: http://www.fostersmarket.com/blog. But, his favorite food in the world was Butter Fish on a biscuit with molasses and anything that Fannie Barnes had on her stove top!

Reminiscing about his switch from football to art were Ernie's words: "One day on the playing field, I looked up and the sun was breaking through the clouds, hitting the unmuddied areas on uniforms, and I said, 'That's beautiful!' I knew then that it was all over being a player. I was more interested in art. So I traded my cleats for canvas, my bruises for brushes, and put all the violence and power I had felt on the field into my paintings."

So, bring on the clouds; more mare's tails please and pass the Q and Brunswick Stew!

"Ace Boon Coon," Zacki