In Memory of Ginny Rosenbaum
Submitted by: Rosanna Weaver, Governance Research Analyst
Corporate governance at its essential core is an attempt to measure and understand some hard to codify items. Ginny Rosenbaum, who died early last Thursday after a long battle with cancer, knew that precision, consistency and accuracy were the tools needed for such measurements. The balance of power between the trinity of management, board, and shareholders may rest on such arcane details as whether broker non-votes are counted in the tally of a particular resolution, or whether the company has erected an insurmountable hurdle to keep shareholders from calling a meeting. Ginny knew that details mattered and was passionate about getting them right.
When Ginny first interviewed at IRRC in 1976, if you wanted a proxy you needed to visit the SEC to get it. Thirty years later, with "corporate governance" now a household term turning up in PowerPoint slides everywhere, Ginny was still reading proxies. No one was better at finding the critical, and most hidden details. An intern commented last week that much of what Ginny did - still, and by her own choice - was "grunt work." In many ways it was, but Ginny's pleasure in "getting it right," and her understanding of the larger context, gave it great value.
In her honor and memory we commit to doing our best to get the details right.
We invite you to use comments on this blog to share memories of Ginny, which we will forward to her family.
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Comments
Ginny Rosenbaum was my absolute favorite source to reach out to regarding any Corporate Governance or Corporate Meeting vote matters. She always made the time to explain things well and helped me in countless ways over the last 20 Years. She was a Leader in her field and covered ground that nobody else had even come to think about yet. Her work made my job easier, before Ginny I had attempted to do much of the reading of Proxy Statements that Ginny had taken on - so, in reality I understand what a mammoth task she took on - she shaped a body of reference records that through today I have yet to see duplicated to the same level of comprehensiveness and accuracy that Ginny achieved. In my world she will be sorely and surely missed - I cannot image the number of times I will think "I'll call Ginny and ask for help" only to feel the grief of her absence rise within me. My day today was truly dimmed and gray thinking of her passing. If I, just a simple business acquaintance, can feel such grief and loss to think I will not hear her laugh or intelligent conversation again - I cannot begin to imagine the loss her family and those that she worked with more closely must feel and will continue to feel for some time coming. My most fervent condolescences to all of us - especially her family and close compatriots. There never has been nor could there ever be another Ginny. It has truly been a priviledge to know her and speak with her over the years... With all sincerety and sadness...Maggie Smith, Research Director, D. F. King & Co., Inc.
Posted by: Maggie Smith | June 27, 2006 6:23 PM
I will miss Ginny so very much. In our far-flung community of investors, researchers, advisors and activists, Ginny will always be lengendary for her kindness, patience, and intelligence.
Her research contributions were nothing short of revolutionary and will be the foundation for others' efforts, for many, many years to come.
More than that, Ginny was such a lovely person and loved by so many. I can't count the number of times that she helped me when no-one else could have, and she always did so with good humor and in the spirit of cooperation. I'm so glad to have known her.
Speaking for MacKenzie Partners and for myself, heartfelt sympathy to Ginny's family, and her second family at IRRC/ISS.
Posted by: Edith Lohman, Director of Research, MacKenzie Partners, Inc. | July 11, 2006 5:35 PM