February 5, 2010 — DMA was saddened to learn of the death of C. Rose Harper, former DMA Chairman, Hall of Fame Inductee, and direct marketing pioneer. Ms. Harper passed away on the evening of February 4, at the age of 90.
In 1982, Ms. Harper became the first woman to serve as DMA Chairman. Considered one of the pioneers of direct marketing, she served as Chairman & CEO of The Kleid Company, a list brokerage firm whose mailing seasonality study served as an industry benchmark.
Harper began her career in the days when the list business consisted of just 13 brokers and a total of 300 lists. Her 1986 McGraw-Hill book, “Mailing List Strategies: A Guide to Direct Mail Success” remains a landmark publication read and referred to by direct marketers.
Rose Harper was inducted into the DMA Hall of Fame in 1985. She was also the winner of the DMCNY Silver Apple Award that same year. She served as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF), and was honored as the 1991 List Leader of the Year.
According to a family member, Ms. Harper passed away peacefully at her home in Hartsdale, and had been in declining physical health for the past several years. She was, nevertheless, still mentally alert and aware until very near the end. “Monday would have been her 91st birthday,” the family member said, “so she was truly blessed with a long and rich life with many accomplishments.”
A wake for Ms. Harper will be held Monday, February 8, at the Bennett Funeral Home at 824 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 10583-5320 (914) 725-1137. Funeral services will take place Tuesday, February 9 at 10 a.m. in St. Pious church in Scarsdale.
Donations in her memory can be made to:
Hospice and Palliative Care of Westchester Hospice and Palliative Care of Westchester
311 North Street, Suite 204
White Plains, NY 10605
914-682-1484
www.hospiceofwestchester.com.
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