Most people here, indeed likely 99.9%, have never heard the name of Dave Herbst.
And that's a shame because he was a Disney man through and through, a class act, a true professional and a fun personality.
He also (shockingly to some here, I'm sure) was a Disney publicist for over three decades after deciding that working PR for the Mouse beat Pittsburgh weather and writing about sports, something he was also extremely passionate about.
I had the privilege of meeting, knowing and working with Dave starting about a decade after he joined the company. He was always friendly, always available and always blunt. He was most definitely not there to spin talking points, but to get to know you, maybe strike up a friendship and get you to understand what Disney was doing better. He was real. He wasn't phony as so many in his department came to be and are now.
Sadly, I hadn't had contact with Dave in a few years. I wasn't even sure whether he was still with the company when I got an email today that he had passed away after having heart surgery last week. He suffered a massive stroke and died. Indeed, the O-Sentinel just put up an obituary which I am linking to below.
In an era where PR folks, especially Disney PR folks were increasingly smarmy and sleazy, Dave was what he always was -- a real guy with a passion for the product. And a class act who genuinely loved the Vacation Kingdom and tried to pass that love onto every one he met.
In looking for news of Dave, I came across an interview he did 11 months ago that hits on so many topics relating to social media. As you'll see, Dave was never one to spin just because that was en vogue in TDO and Celebration Place in his final years. I truly wish I would have been able to discuss the subject with him. I sorta think if he had been in charge of Disney Social Media, things would be done very differently ... heck, I would have just loved a chance to talk about today's Steelers-Giants game or Notre Dame's 3OT comeback win over Pitt Saturday night. He was one of a kind and, sadly, part of a dying breed in corporate communications. He could explain something about the company's position without standing there, looking you in the eye and lying without even thinking about it.
My condolences go out to Dave's wife and family.
And that's a shame because he was a Disney man through and through, a class act, a true professional and a fun personality.
He also (shockingly to some here, I'm sure) was a Disney publicist for over three decades after deciding that working PR for the Mouse beat Pittsburgh weather and writing about sports, something he was also extremely passionate about.
I had the privilege of meeting, knowing and working with Dave starting about a decade after he joined the company. He was always friendly, always available and always blunt. He was most definitely not there to spin talking points, but to get to know you, maybe strike up a friendship and get you to understand what Disney was doing better. He was real. He wasn't phony as so many in his department came to be and are now.
Sadly, I hadn't had contact with Dave in a few years. I wasn't even sure whether he was still with the company when I got an email today that he had passed away after having heart surgery last week. He suffered a massive stroke and died. Indeed, the O-Sentinel just put up an obituary which I am linking to below.
In an era where PR folks, especially Disney PR folks were increasingly smarmy and sleazy, Dave was what he always was -- a real guy with a passion for the product. And a class act who genuinely loved the Vacation Kingdom and tried to pass that love onto every one he met.
In looking for news of Dave, I came across an interview he did 11 months ago that hits on so many topics relating to social media. As you'll see, Dave was never one to spin just because that was en vogue in TDO and Celebration Place in his final years. I truly wish I would have been able to discuss the subject with him. I sorta think if he had been in charge of Disney Social Media, things would be done very differently ... heck, I would have just loved a chance to talk about today's Steelers-Giants game or Notre Dame's 3OT comeback win over Pitt Saturday night. He was one of a kind and, sadly, part of a dying breed in corporate communications. He could explain something about the company's position without standing there, looking you in the eye and lying without even thinking about it.
My condolences go out to Dave's wife and family.
