Rosenburg's continued...
Mr. McNeany became like a second father to me. He always called me "Sunshine", something he still would call me every time he would run into me these years. "There's my sunshine" he would say. John, one of his sons and another close college friend, always says "He just adores you". Yeah well, I look just like his other redheaded daughters and I am sure my stunts were legendary. Burning that neck tie was not my last disaster while working for Bill McNeany.
Mr. McNeany had rules for all of us that worked in his store, rules that serve me well to this day. I think I could write a book about life and call it "Mr McNeany's rules."
Some of them were:
1. No chewing gum in front of a customer - EVER.
2. Never take a phone call over the customer in front of you. The customer in front of you IS YOUR CUSTOMER.
3. Know your customer's name.
4. Never talk personal business in front of a customer.
5. Always suggest more.
6. Never leave your customers helpless in a dressing room.
7. ALWAYS do what you tell your customer you are going to do, and then do one thing more that you didn't tell them you would do.
8. While in the store, your customer islike family and our guest. Treat them as such.
9. White shoes should be saved for brides.
10. Always be kind, then respectful.
11. Never point. Escort your customer to where they need to go.
12. The customer is always right.
13. Dress respectfully, and if you don't I will send you home to change and dock your pay. Look in the mirror before you leave your home and think, "Would my grandmother like me in this... at her wedding?"...
14. Be on time.
15. Listen to your customer.
16. Look busy.
17. Wear a good bra (compliments of those alterations ladies).
18. Make sure your customer has fun.
19. If your customer can't come to you, then go to them.
20. ALWAYS say, "Thank you." .. and mean it.
On Tuesday April 11th in the year of our lord 2006, Mr. William McNeany Senior, former owner of Rosenburgs died of cancer.
{SORRY - THE LINK KEEPS EXPIRING< SO HERE IS THE PD ARTICLE:
BILL MCNEANY 1926-2006 - ROSENBERG'S OWNER LED WITH CHARM, GRACEPublished on April 12, 2006 © 2006- The Press Democrat
BYLINE: TIM TESCONI
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
PAGE: B1
Like the long-gone Rosenberg's Department Store that he owned, Santa Rosa's Bill McNeany epitomized grace, style and old-fashioned courtesy until the end.
McNeany, patriarch, businessman, community leader and pillar of the Catholic Church, died Tuesday at his Santa Rosa home following a 10-year battle against cancer. He was 79.
A businessman with the heart of a Sunday school teacher, McNeany's generosity and compassion were as legendary as the old department store he presided over for more than 30 years. He had an instinctive decency that came through in everything he did, whether running the store, raising his eight children or quietly performing his many acts of private charity.
Friends said McNeany represented the Christian faith at its finest and the Catholic heritage at its best.
``Bill's urge to help others, coupled with his incredible energy, made him a figure in a lot of lives during his many years in Santa Rosa,'' said Justice Joseph Rattigan, a friend for more than 50 years. ``His most singular characteristic was that he genuinely loved everybody. He had good things to say about everyone -- even some bad people.''
For most of his adult life, McNeany and his family were associated with Rosenberg's, the grand dame of downtown Santa Rosa for 93 years. Rosenberg's closed in 1988 as patronage waned, fading amid the competition of trendy boutiques and the major chain stores like Macy's that anchored shopping malls. Barnes & Noble Bookstore now inhabits the classic building at Fourth and D streets that was once Rosenberg's, the name still a pleasant memory for many Santa Rosans of a certain age.
``Rosenberg's was best at Christmas. Bill in his impeccably tailored suit, gliding about the see-and-be-seen first floor, carrying your packages to the gift wrap, laughing and hugging everyone,'' Patti Konicek Dietzen said Tuesday.
``At Christmas, you didn't go to Rosenberg's just to see Santa, you went to see Bill McNeany,'' she said.
Dietzen said McNeany often was at the door to greet customers, knowing the neck size of a judge's favorite Arrow shirt or directing schoolgirls to the autumn collection of angora sweaters and matching knee socks.
``No matter what door you entered, you were greeted by name by Bill,'' said Dietzen. ``He seemed to be on both floors and the mezzanine all at the same time.''
When Rosenberg's closed for good in 1988, McNeany rolled up his sleeves and got a job. He was associated with American Home Shield for several years.
For the past 12 years, McNeany served as the associate director of the department of cemeteries for the Santa Rosa Diocese, working under Father Gerald Fahey, the former pastor at St. Eugene Cathedral. Fahey said he met McNeany when he was named pastor at St. Eugene in 1970, cherishing McNeany's spirit of friendship.
``I have had ample opportunity to get to know Bill as one of the finest, kindest and generous human beings it has been my privilege to be associated with in 55 years of public life,'' Fahey said Tuesday.
Stories of McNeany's generosity abound. At Christmas he donated dozens of Rosenberg's most expensive sweaters to troubled girls locked in juvenile hall. When a longtime Rosenberg's employee died, he assisted in raising her daughter. He counseled employees on marital troubles and held the hand of an employee dying of a brain tumor.
``The employees at Rosenberg's were like his second family. He loved all of them and he loved the retail business. It was really hard for Bill when Rosenberg's closed,'' said Mary McNeany, his wife of 54 years.
McNeany was born Aug. 22, 1926, in Fond du Lac, Wis., the son of a merchant. He got his start as a clothing salesman in Milwaukee. He came to Santa Rosa in 1951when his father, Joseph McNeany, bought Rosenberg's from members of the Rosenberg family.
Bill McNeany immediately became involved in the church and community while running the store and raising his large family. He served on the board of directors of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Hanna Boys Center, Cardinal Newman High School, Junior Achievement and Boy Scouts. He was a member of many clubs and received awards for his leadership and philanthropy.
In addition to his wife, Mary, McNeany is survived by his sons, Bill, John, Joseph and Patrick McNeany, all of Santa Rosa; his daughters, Therese McNeany-Peifer and Mary Ellen Struck, both of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Kathleen Veon of Sacramento, and Elizabeth Dericco of Healdsburg; his sister, Marion Tidmarsh of Rancho Bernardo; his brother-in-law, Monsignor John Donovan of Milwaukee; and 12 grandchilden.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. April 19 at St. Eugene Cathedral. Entombment is at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
A Vigil Rite service will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lafferty & Smith Colonial Chapel.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation, Memorial Hospice, Catholic Charities or Cardinal Newman High School Foundation.}
I cried.
In the mid- 1980's when Macy's came to Santa Rosa and the era of earthquake proofing the buildings that survived numerous earthquakes came to fruition. It was to cost 10 million dollars to retrofit the building that housed Rosenburg's. With that news, Rosenburgs closed in 1988.
Mary and I transferred the Bridal department out of Rosenburg's to Brides Etcetera in 1983, so I was not there to witness the end.
Mr. McNeany went on to manage Calvary cemetery for the Catholic church.
This is how my life goes ... because I live just below that same cemetery ... where my own father is buried ... and my younger sister ...my Irish Grandma ... and grandpa .. and someday ... me own Ma.
These past years he has been the caretaker of the place where those once alive and dear to me lay rest. Often, I walk down the street, up the hill and across Bennett Valley road, to hike up to the top where my father lay rest. The view from his grave overlooks the Santa Rosa Valley. The bell tower rings every hour on the hour and I can hear it within my home. Every time the bells sound I think it is Mr. McNeany reminding me to say hello to my family on the other side. "Stop what you are doing Catherine, spit out your gum, and say a respectful hello to your family"...
Next Tuesday evening is the Rosary for Mr. McNeany and Wednesday is his funeral. I will press my finest blacks, shine my best black shoes, pull my hair back in a tight twist and gather my rosary beads and go pay respect to a man whoforever changed my life. He taught me the rules of life after my father no longer could, rules I still use to this day.
I will print this story and give it to John to read to his seven other brothers and sisters when they gather together to discuss their dad... and they will know that after all these years..he was loved by many.
Until next time-
C
