The Passing of an Icon
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Public relations industry leader Ed Lewi, founder of Ed Lewi Associates, the Capital Region public relations agency that managed media relations for the XIII Olympic Winter Games and has assisted in media relations and marketing efforts for The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) since the late 1970s, passed on Saturday, August 29. He was 81.
A celebration of life in honor of Lewi was overflowing with family, friends, and community members at noon on Tuesday, September 1 at the Saratoga Race Course’s At the Rail Pavilion.
Over a communications career that spanned more than six decades, Lewi and his agency helped contribute to today’s success and popularity of such major local, regional and national attractions as the Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom and played a significant role in the growth of the United States Figure Skating Association. Lewi also inaugurated the three track-related festivals in Saratoga and the Belmont Festival in Garden City, NY, which continue to be widely popular events.
“He helped put Saratoga on the map,” said celebrated philanthropist, thoroughbred owner and breeder Marylou Whitney. “Saratoga is the place it is today because of Ed Lewi.”
“Ed led a wonderful life, the type of life that people should aspire to lead. He was a true gentleman and philanthropist and Marylou and I were honored to call him our best friend, along with his beloved wife, Maureen,” said John Hendrickson. “He gave millions of people joy and fun and we are forever grateful for his joyful spirit, youthful enthusiasm and boundless energy.”
Ed Lewi is remembered as the man who changed Saratoga Race Course from a racing venue to a renowned and unique ‘happening’, who moved ballet audiences at SPAC from a few hundred to full houses, and who took the United States Figure Skating Association from one sponsor and low TV ratings to 25 sponsors and unprecedented TV ratings.
Lewi began his communications career as a sports writer for The Daily Gazette and worked for the Associated Press and United Press International, as well as doing television and radio broadcasting. Founded in the 1960s as a part-time venture while Lewi was employed as promotions director of the Times Union, Ed Lewi Associates incorporated in 1975. He sold the company in 2010.
Under Lewi’s leadership, Ed Lewi Associates became known for his unusual public relations maneuvers and razzle-dazzle creativity. For more than 40 years, Ed Lewi (and later Ed Lewi Associates) worked with amusement tycoon Charley Wood in marketing Storytown USA (later re-named The Great Escape), Gaslight Village and Fantasy Island with outrageous promotions befitting an amusement empire. From a wedding of Lilliputians in a miniature church by a six foot priest to a black-tie gala to open the Raging River at the new waterpark, Wood’s parks were known throughout the national amusement industry for the Lewi-style promotions that produced thousands of national news clips and garnered coverage in hundreds of national magazines.
When Ed Lewi Associates took over the marketing, promotion and media relations for Saratoga Race Course in the late 1970s, track goers experienced everything from philanthropist and horse owner/breeder Marylou Whitney and jockey Angel Cordero riding an elephant and camel, to media coming out of the starting gates on camp horses for the annual media race. National media photographed “Marylou” and other famous track regulars playing games like Whack-A-Mole or hosting celebrities like Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, Donald Trump, Merv Griffin, Ava Gabor, Walter Cronkite and others.
Lewi maintained a long history of philanthropy, volunteerism and community involvement to numerous charitable causes, including the Double H Ranch, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Camp Chingachgook and the Capital District YMCA, where he served on each of their board of directors. He was honored by the Saratoga Rotary Foundation for his volunteerism and received the President’s Award, and was the first-ever recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Capital District YMCA. He served as Media Relations and Marketing Chair of Saratoga 150.
Lewi was the recipient of the Silver Medal Person of the Year Award of the Ad Club Association of Professional Communicators and received numerous international, national and local awards. He is also the recipient of the Freedom Foundation Award. In 2014, Ed wrote a book of fun stories about his promotional activities. It is entitled “A Wild Ride.”
Ed is survived by his wife, Maureen, his two sons Jim Lewi and Joe Lewi, daughters-in-law Lori and Melissa, and his four grandchildren: Gwen, Melanie, Emma and Jake.
Those wishing to make a charitable contribution are encouraged to choose one of the following: The Double H Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Rd., Lake Luzerne, NY 12846; The Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 108 Ave. of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or The YMCA Camp Chingachgook, 1879 Pilot Knob Road, Kattskill Bay, NY 12844.
Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518-584-5373. Read the full obituary or make online remembrances at www.burkefuneralhome.com. For a look into the story of Ed and Maureen Lewi and their impact on Saratoga, visit pages 36 through 43 in the 2014 Summer edition of Simply Saratoga, which can be seen below.
