Nellie Lide (1958 - 2007)

It is with great pain and sorrow that we announce the death of Nellie Lide, the author of our New Persuasion blog. Nellie was only 48 years old and died way too young from a heart ailment. She not only had a brilliant mind, as evidenced by this blog and her many creative writings, but she also had the warmest heart of anyone I know. She was one of my best friends for over twenty years, but you only had to know her briefly to feel like she was one of your kindred spirits in life. That’s because no one could make you feel more special and funny and smart than Nellie.

She was one of those people you meet in life and say, “God, I’m so glad I know her!” Whenever you needed a pick-me-up, you sought out Nellie. She was the social center of our office. We never ceased to be amazed at Nellie’s gift for eye-opening analytical insights, yet she could get just as excited analyzing the plotline from Lost. She loved TV and movies and the younger employees in our office flocked to her for both entertainment and advice. She had a big booming laugh that could be heard all the way down the hall and brightened even the gloomiest day.

Nellie was the best storyteller that ever lived. She could take the most mundane event and have you crying with laughter. She took great pride in her job and would work into the wee hours of the night to get her report just perfect, but she also knew how to laugh at herself, too. She loved doing improv with a local troupe at night and she had no fear of just putting it all out there. She gave unbelievably of her time and money to her church and her kids’ schools. She came from a Catholic family with 13 children and had always planned on having six or more of her own. After terrible morning sickness, though, she stopped at three – Mary, David and Grace. They were her whole world, along with her husband, Dave. Nellie touched more lives than most people who live twice as long as she did – and she taught us all how to truly live.

I’m having a hard time writing this good-bye to Nellie because all I can think of is how much better it would be if she could write it. It would be funny and witty and profound and truly memorable. That was Nellie. I tried to recreate some of her funny stories, but they just don’t sound the same when Nellie isn’t telling them. So this blog entry cannot do her justice, but if it can convey a little of how much she meant to me – and to every single person in this office — than it will have served its purpose.

Nellie – we loved you dearly and feel truly blessed to have known you. Our lives will never be the same without you. (This is where Nellie would be saying, “Oh, get out a’ here!” but inside, she’d be secretly pleased to know that she had made our lives a little better and a little happier. After all, that’s all Nellie really wanted out of life.)

Posted by Caroline Satchell on November 21, 2007 at 2:53 PM
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COMMENTS (11)

Words really don’t do Nellie justice. I had the privilege of working with her for the past 4 years and really closely on New Persuasion with her for the past couple years. She taught me so much not only about New Persuasion but about life in general. She was so wise and was such a great inspiration to everyone. I’m sad that I don’t have more time with her to learn more. Sadly, I took my time with her for granted and now wish I had just one more day with her.
Not only was she a great teacher, she was a genuine person- a rare breed of person in today’s society. She liked you for you and didn’t care about how much money you had or who you knew or anything else on a superficial level.
She made everyone laugh and brought such a spirit to the workplace, not to mention full candy bins.
Nellie- we all miss you so much!! TMG and New Persuasion just won’t be the same without you.

Posted by: Josie Morris | November 21, 2007 at 4:24 PM

Caroline - This is horrible news. Please know that Nellie, her family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers during this time.

As an RSS feed subscriber, I have many of her posts saved in my feed reader. Hopefully this blog will continue to help keep her memory alive.

Posted by: Kevin Dugan | November 21, 2007 at 4:31 PM

I too was one of the many Nellie touched, made laugh and taught; everything from blogging to dealing with touch situations! There are so many things I want to say, but you don’t have time to read it all and Nellie would tell me to, “Chill out!” Nellie had a wonderful spirit, which she shared with everyone she met. Nellie Lide…brilliant, so brilliant she would make those not so brilliant uncomfortable; dynamic, so dynamic when she walked in the room, you knew she had arrived; honest, so honest when she opened her mouth the whole room would hold their breathe in fear of what she might say; confident, funny, a real friend…I loved Nellie and I still love Nellie! The memories she left with me and the experiences she shared with me about life are what keep her living and it’s what keeps me smiling. So, remember her, laugh with her and “Rock On” in her memory!
I love you Nellie, Freda

Posted by: Freda | November 22, 2007 at 10:18 PM

Where should I even begin?

Nellie was a singular character. To have known her was the sort of honor and a privilege that few of us are fortunate to have even once in our lifetimes.

What drew me to Nellie on the surface was her humor, her love for life, and her willingness to say what she was really thinking without regard to political correctness or office politics. She was able to do this with impunity, however, because she was so deeply and genuinely concerned with the well-being of everyone she knew. If she told you something you didn’t want to hear, it was because you needed to hear it for your own good.

Nellie was, in many respects, like a part of my own family. The same age as my own mother, she was like my crazy aunt in the office down the hall, the one I went to to bounce ideas off of (knowing the good ones would receive encouragement) and to discuss the trials and tribulations of life, family and work.

When work got particularly difficult or I faced a challenge that felt overwhelming, she always made me laugh and encouraged me to take it in stride, and do whatever it was that I needed to do. It is no exaggeration to say that there were days when stopping in to visit Nellie was about the only part of my work day I was looking forward to.

Nellie pushed those of us who were just getting started on our careers to see our true potential. She could often see our capabilities even when no one else recognized them. She liberally applied the term “Genius!” to ideas that she loved, and if she said this to you often enough you actually began to believe that maybe - just maybe - you really might have something worthwhile to offer.

Nellie encouraged me in my writing, my research, my family life and my approach to every day challenges. These things will stay with me and continue to act as a catalyst for growth and change.

Nellie’s death is a tremendous loss in my own life and the life of so many others, but the impact she had in the short two years I’ve known her will be life-long.

We miss you Nellie, and we continue to pray for the repose of your soul and the consolation of your family. Life will never be quite as fun without you.

Posted by: Steve Skojec | November 26, 2007 at 10:56 AM

One of my first experiences working here at McGinn was sitting in the cubicle cluster right next to her office. As a young intern I would hear Nellie’s loud voice pour out into the hallway. It wasn’t a morning at the office if I didn’t hear her yell at the TV, her computer, or Chip. I knew that this place was going to be an awesome place to work at.

Now as a young employee I continue to respect and admire Nellie’s ability to say it how it is. She was a center of energy for the office and she will be missed.

Posted by: Patrick Pho | November 26, 2007 at 1:17 PM

Nellie was truly a one of a kind person with the emphasis on “kind”. I worked with her for years starting with Capital Edition and ending with her freelancing in the Promotions Dept. at WUSA. Everyone loved Nellie, she had a way to make you laugh no matter what the situation was.
The memories are so long, that I can not possibly list them all. One of the days I remember so vividly was with Ron Ling and Nellie at the 75/80 Dragway. We were filming a segment called “Johnny Turbo” for Capital Edition. Nellie was pregnant and sick as a dog. The smell and noise was horrible with all of the smoke and fumes.
Ron Ling and I were videotaping the cars running the track. Nellie was hanging with us in between vomiting from morning sickness. We told her to go take it easy and let us handle this, but Nellie would never have that, she was a trooper and did not want to let us down. Nellie stayed the entire day.
Another memory was with John Goldsmith and Jan Thompson. We were shooting for Capital Edition near Solomon’s Island.
We had just finished a fine meal of crab cakes at a local restaurant and started heading back to the house in a small boat. John Goldsmith was the host of the show and the captain of the small boat. It started raining and one fierce lightning storm broke out while we were in the middle of the Patuxent River. Here we were in this small boat being tossed about when Nellie and John started barking at each other on which direction to go. It was so dark in between the lightning strikes. I really didn’t think either one of them knew the way back. We all were soaked and scared out of our wits. After about twenty minutes of rough seas and foul words we finally made it back alive. After a little time had passed we could laugh our heads off over that scene on the Patuxent River.
Anyone who knew Nellie could picture her in the pouring rain and lightning storm, screaming out directions… it was a scene right out of “The Perfect Storm”.
As I said before, there are so many memories and
yes, Nellie was a one of a kind and a person that once you met her, you couldn’t help but love her forever.

Posted by: Tim DeLuca | November 28, 2007 at 8:59 PM

I am so sad to hear this news.

Although I never met Nellie in person, dealing with her through email was a real joy. She wrote several articles for my publication and they were always highly popular. Her work was superb — the highest quality — and they will be a living tribute to her.

I know you all (and her family of course) will miss her deeply. So will I.

With sympathy,

Anita Campbell, Editor
Small Business Trends

Posted by: Anita Campbell | November 30, 2007 at 2:39 PM

Nellie

I met Nellie back in 1985 when I was interning at Channel 9. Nellie arrived only a few weeks before I had to leave, but she made that short period of time very memorable for me. She was always there with a quick comeback and a wonderful loud laugh that was infectious. I left Channel 9 and did not see Nelly again until a few years ago when I visited Caroline in her office. It was like no time had passed; she greeted me the same as she did back at Channel 9 — the laugh, the smile and the quick wit were all there. It was still Nellie and will always be.

I send my prayers and love to all her friends and family.

Love,
Vicky Lawford

Posted by: Vicky Lawford | December 1, 2007 at 1:16 PM

While I’ve never met Nellie in person, her spot on writing and exuberant personality were certainly communicated via this blog. Reading her posts on a regular basis I have come to know just a bit of Nellie, and for that I am thankful.

Posted by: jon burg | December 9, 2007 at 3:52 PM

I am so sorry to hear of Nellie’s passing. I had the wonderful experience of working with her for a short time about a year ago, and she was certainly one of the kindest and most dynamic individuals I have had the good fortune to know. She went out of her way to make me feel welcome and appreciated, and even kept in touch with me after I left and took my current position. She had such a special light about her. I send my sincere condolences to her family, friends and co-workers. I am positive that she made an incredible impact on all that knew and loved her.

Posted by: Sandy Reuschling | January 24, 2008 at 5:34 PM

I still cannot believe that Nellie is gone. I miss her honesty, her intelligence, her laugh and her leadership. I miss her more than I can actually express in words.

Even though things at the office will never feel the same with Nellie gone, there are a few things that I am sure of. I am sure that she will forever be one of the most humble, brilliant, hilarious, generous, and amazing people I will ever have the privilege of knowing. She was such a special person and I am completely thankful for everything she taught me as a friend, co-worker, and supervisor.

I think of Nellie every day. I think of how she would always stand up for what she believed was fair. She would never hesitate to speak her mind and knew the world was not perfect… but she always tried to make her world as perfect as it could be. She had the ability to make everyone around her happy and you could tell she loved knowing she made a difference– big or small.

She never lost sight of her goals and always made time for fun. I thought it was great that she could always find ways to enjoy almost everything she did. She could make any situation a memorable one.

I knew I could be completely honest with Nellie and she would never pass judgement. She initially saw something in me when others did not and went through the trouble of letting others know she felt otherwise. I will forever be grateful to her for this. She always used to act like everything she did for me and for others was not a big deal– but it was and contunies to be a big deal in ways she could never know.

I remember the day I opened a graduation card which was signed by the whole staff at my company. I immediately spotted Nellie’s short message before I read any others. She simply wrote, “Krissy, you know I love you. Love, Nellie.” I remember that this completely made my day.

Nellie always wanted others to do well and was always the perfect person to talk to about any situation. I have learned many important life lessons from Nellie and smile when I think of her favorite little phrases like “plant the seed and walk away” or “I love it! I love it!”

Her unconditional love for her family and her ability to teach others so easily was incredible. She was a true friend and will always be remembered.

Nellie, you know I love you!

Posted by: Krissy Groome | February 4, 2008 at 3:05 PM

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