Joseph Volpe: Peter typified AFP's heart

Mathematically speaking, Peter was more than one line away from me on an organizational chart as a sales person at AFP. More directly, he was the encapsulation of the Agency; I saw him as the embodiment of the esprit de corps that separates AFP from other news agencies. AFP has heart, I believe, in large part because of its personalities and, in no small part, that fact was reflected by Peter's conscious efforts and in many ways his unconscious efforts. Peter's persona was to be inclusive: he frequently asked me to join the New York journalists to lunch with them, although the meeting was intended as an informal way to consolidate new ideas among the reporters, and to instruct them in the latest news about journalistic standards and what was going on from the editorial desks in Paris and Washington, D.C..

Peter met every possible occasion to put the agency's best foot forward by participating in many meetings in the US and Canada where we required a stabilizing, authoritative reporter's voice of the agency from the trenches. We met senior executive staff at places as far flung and diverse editorially as CNN Atlanta, FOXNews in New York, The New York Post, Newsday and the Toronto Star. At Canwest Newspapers, when the principals of the trans-Canadian newspaper chain failed to show at a meeting deliberately scheduled in Ottawa, Peter show intractable forbearance and the four of us in the group split up to manage other commitments in Toronto. He succeeded in making the meeting later that day, or the next, and the text deal was signed. Our marketing meetings at major networks - organized by Peter - frequently started with anecdotes from major world hot spots,like Iraq, where Peter had originally made the acquaintance of his counterparts. On meeting them, once again, he enjoyed regaling his news colleagues, sharing stories that created immediate credibility for the agency with the ring of friendship that had opened the door to us in the first place.

Personally, Peter was always considerate of others and shared charming stories with me of his early days in New York working at UPI. When there was a shooting in Harlem that Peter wanted to run down, his Bureau Chief simply told the young reporter that these were everyday matters and that it would be a first for anyone in New York to enquire after sources. (My recollection please understand, lacks the verve of the first person, so please excuse me in the attempt to retell the raconteur's tale).

There are a million stories, as when recently an ailing AFP journalist in New York received a call in his hospital room from Peter, after recovering from surgery. "Peter's a tough boss, and he's a great guy to be calling me to show his concern", he said. I knew that to be true.

I don't recall what had prompted the retelling, but there's the incident Peter confided in over lunch about the time when his mother, many decades before, was seriously ill. Peter was overheard by a man talking about his sick mother's fondness for Nathan's hot dogs. His story must have been heart-rending to the stranger as it had been memorable to me, because that man as it turned out, worked for Nathan's. The next day a delivery of abundant wieners was delivered to the Mackler residence. This was an early indication of his empathy and concern for others that he loved.

Finally, there were many conversations both in French and English, the later being most memorable to me, where Peter unequivocally stressed his honor to work for AFP and the AFP Foundation he founded. He also shared with me his unending commitment to Agence France-Presse and the unreserved support and nurturing spirit that had informed his career.

I am reminded of the old Irish saying, "is this a private fight or can anyone join in?" and in so doing Peter did join in and, instructively, he did so decently.

Joseph Volpe
NY Bureau