To Pam, my colleague and close friend

I have had the great pleasure to know Pam as a colleague and friend for more than 35 years.  Pam, Kaiser’s first employee, has always been capable, hardworking, enthusiastic, supportive, and kind.

The firm started as a very small, tightly knit group of young people.  Pam was, by necessity, a jack-of-all-trades at the time.  She did our slide production (using a specialized typewriter called, if I recall correctly, a composer), she paid the bills, she answered the phones, she arranged our travel, she walked Michael’s dogs (!), and yes, I guess she was the den mother to the young consultants who surrounded her.

Being the model employee that she was, I have no stories about Pam and her highjinks, for there were none.  However, there are many situations I recall Pam being thrust into by those of us around her…

… for example, the time when the firm was still operating out of Michael’s townhouse, and we were in a client meeting in the dining room.  The dogs were upstairs, their presence not known by the client.  When the mailman showed up at the front door, one of the dogs started to bark.  Bob Fifer, who was upstairs working with the dogs at his side, jumped up to quiet them.  Alas, when doing so, he stepped on one of them, which caused a bloodcurdling yelp to be issued forth.  The look of client’s face was one of utter confusion!  A minute or two later, down the stairs ‘limped’ Pam, who apologized for having screamed when she had ‘twisted her ankle.’

… or the time that, on her 40th birthday, Pam walked into the conference room for the then-traditional sharing of a birthday cake, only to be greeted by all of the other Kaiser employees in tee shirts that read ‘I’m not over the hill’ on the front and ‘I’m not 40’ on the back.  Plus, of course, her present, which was a tee shirt that read ‘I hit the hill’ on the front and ‘I am 40’ on the back.

I certainly look back fondly on many other experiences I’ve shared with Pam and Jay.  Their beautiful wedding.  Watching their son Michael grow up.  Hearing stories of their fantastic trips to California, France, and Switzerland.  Many wonderful meals, bottles of wine, and conversation on innumerable topics.

I could go on and on about Pam, but I won’t.  Rather, I’ll close by mentioning perhaps Pam’s most defining characteristic: a positive outlook that causes Pam to think the best of everyone.  I don’t recall ever hearing Pam say something mean or demeaning about anyone.  She has always seen the best in people and granted them the benefit of the doubt.  That is a really rare quality, one that I’ve prized as her friend and one that has been invaluable to Kaiser Associates.  I know she will be missed by the firm but will remain a friend to so many with whom she has worked over these last 37+ years.

To Pam — congratulations, thank you, and best wishes for many, many happy years of retirement!

Lance Pryor

1983-1984 and 1987-1995