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Obituary: Macy’s GMM Kevin Morrissey

By: Karen Alberg Grossman

July 17, 2010

NEW YORK—Macy’s EVP/GMM Kevin Morrissey, who went to Syracuse University on a football scholarship and upon graduation joined A&S as an executive trainee, died unexpectedly on Saturday July 17 of a massive heart attack at age 58.

Morrissey was a native of the Boston area and a life-long fan of the Boston sports teams. He joined A&S as an executive trainee in June 1974 in housewares and home decor. His first assignment (in August 1974) was as an assistant manager in men's sportswear. He spent virtually his entire 36-year career with Macy’s Inc. as a menswear merchant (with the exception of short stints as a buyer in children's and as a store manager). Along the way, Kevin was a men's department manager, assistant buyer, buyer, DMM and GMM. He first became A&S's GMM for men's in 1990. In ‘94, after Federated bought Macy's, Kevin became the men's GMM at Macy's East. In 2009, he became EVP/GMM for men's for all of Macy's when the organization was consolidated. He was honored by both the YMA and the UJA.

Morrissey, who once described himself to MR Magazine as “straightforward, self-critical and very driven,” was known throughout the industry for his strong leadership, team spirit and zest for life. As Kevin’s mentor Herb Spiegel of Randa once told MR, “He’s a committed and disciplined athlete, and that’s the way he does his job. He’d go to the wire for Macys: he’s an incredibly dedicated team player.” Another mentor, Dennis Mory of M.E.Sport, noted that “With Kevin, you always know exactly where you stand. He’s consistent, and very fair.”

Below: Morrissey in his Syracuse uniform.

In an interview with MR a few years ago, Morrissey spoke about these two mentors. “From Herb I learned the art of negotiation: how to deal with the market and how to schmooze a little. From Dennis, I learned about handling people. Because in the end, it’s the people side of the business that matters most.”

In that same interview, Kevin described what he would consider a perfect day: He’d be watching his daughter Catherine play basketball and his son Patrick play hockey, after which he’d escape to play golf. Industry colleagues say that business and sports aside, family was everything to Kevin, who would often speak with tremendous pride about his wife Susan and their two children.

Says Terry Lundgren, Macy’s Inc. chairman and president, “In my many years working with Kevin, I observed his expertise in menswear and his skill as an executive. He was a strong team leader and made a significant contribution to building the Macy's brand with the men's customer. Kevin's passing will be a great loss to our company, to the industry and to me personally. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin's family at this difficult time.”

Notes Jeff Gennette, Macy's chief merchandising officer, “Kevin was an outstanding merchant—a legend in the menswear industry. He keenly understood the customer and was exceptional at sizing up and maximizing business opportunities. In doing so, Kevin built a reputation for being an effective partner with our vendors. Moreover, Kevin built and led a very strong menswear merchant team at Macy's. He was a friend and mentor who was beloved in our organization and will be greatly missed.”

Les Steiger, Kevin’s friend and colleague at Macy’s, believes the Men's Division at Macy's will never be the same. “Kevin was such a powerful force in the market and in the company. He was fiercely competitive and instilled the highest standards for his reports. He was a great boss who was incredibly supportive of ‘his team.’ And his team loved him.

“Kevin was an amazing merchant: terrific instincts, decisive, aggressive. He never met a key item he didn't like...or a key item that he thought had a big enough investment! If a buyer told him we were buying 300,000 units, he would say we should buy 500,000!

“He was a wonderful father who would do anything for his two children, Patrick and Catherine. If Kevin was off for a day or two, you usually knew he was doing something with the kids.

“He was my mentor and my friend. I will miss him dearly.”

Clearly, Kevin was loved and respected not only within the Macy’s organization but throughout the industry. According to Ron Wurtzburger at Peerless, Morrissey was a mentor to many and an intrepid merchant. “Kevin was never afraid to take a chance and on the rare occasions that he was wrong, he’d jump right in and fix it.”

Adds Morrissey’s friend and colleague Rich Wurtzburger, “Not only did Kevin know how to run a successful business financially, but he was also a true merchant. He understood what was important, and how to maximize and capitalize on those ideas. At the same time he knew how to add newness and freshness to the floor, and get into trends with precise timing. He knew the Macy’s customer better then they knew themselves.

“He was a great business partner, but an even better friend. I will miss his wisdom, advice, competitive fire, all the laughs and fun times. His love of family was amazing, and he helped teach me how important it is to be close to your kids, and to have a very open and loving relationship with them. Patrick and Catherine were the loves of his life. It is a friendship that I will cherish forever, and I will miss him greatly.”

“Kevin was Macy’s Men’s,” observes Marty Staff of J.A. Apparel. “He was also a football player who assembled his team, coached them well, and sent them out to win. And he always did. For him, winning was the only thing that mattered. His untimely death is an enormous loss: his contributions over the years helped to shape the menswear industry which is why he will be remembered for a very long time.”

Says Ken Duane of PVH, “Kevin was a true field general in that he always charged right in there with his team. He had a tremendous passion for this business and loved every aspect of retailing. But what few people knew about Kevin was that he was also a very talented artist: he taught his daughter how to sketch and he was a terrific cook. All told, a very creative guy and a real class act!”

From George and Oscar Feldenkreis and the Perry Ellis International Family: “We are truly saddened and dismayed by the sudden and tragic loss of our friend and business partner. For those of us who had the opportunity to work with Kevin, we know what an impact and profound contribution he made to Macy's and the vital role he played within the organization.

”We feel fortunate to have had the opportunity over the past 20 years to personally know Kevin and his amazingly large personality. His contributions to retail and the men’s fashion industry will forever be with all of us. He will always be remembered as a genuine and caring leader, a visionary and compassionate icon. Our sincere heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and associates.”

“Kevin was a dominant figure in menswear who understood how to leverage the size of his business for maximum growth,” says Paul Rosengard from Li & Fung. “In short, he was a force to be reckoned with! He was a strong leader and a great key item merchant who had a long history of delivering superior results. Kevin was also a devoted family man, very involved in and proud of his children's many accomplishments. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him."

Notes Allen Sirkin at PVH: “Kevin was a dear friend to so many of us. We all grew up together and have been a part of each other’s lives since we were kids. Kevin was a multi-dimensional guy: a great family man, friend and a force for Macy’s and our industry. He could be tough and competitive but had the values that we all admired: honesty and integrity. His word was his bond and he had no problem taking unpopular positions. Doing what was right as he saw it was his style. He was a man’s man with a huge heart.

“Kevin will be missed by all whose lives were touched by his presence. Life goes on but it will not be the same. His passing has created a void that can not be filled. Moments like this give us all cause to pause and think about what is really important in our lives. Kevin's passing and who he was gives us much to think about and remember. He was special and will be missed.”

Jimmy Rosenfeld from Fishman Tobin considered Kevin a good friend. “How painful to lose such a good friend! Although I met Kevin through business, I got to know him on the golf course where we were rookies together with the ‘Wild Colonial Boys’ group and on many trips to Kiawah Island with the PVH group.

“You learn a lot about a person on the golf course where Kevin was a fierce competitor with the will to win. He was always a great partner because he could be counted on in every tight situation and to be there with encouragement when his partner needed it. “Don't be misled by those steely blue eyes. Yes he played football at Syracuse and yes my nickname for him in business was Kevin ‘I deliver’ Morrissey. He may have had a tough outer appearance but I remember his soft voice. I often heard him speak of his family. Although I never met them, I knew he was always involved with his family: his son, a hockey player at Williams, his daughter at Calvin Klein and his wife with roots in South Jersey where they summered, played golf and barbecued.

“Kevin was a guy’s guy who could be counted on whether in business where his word was golden or as a friend who was there for you when needed. He will sorely be missed by so many: family who he loved, friends who he trusted, and in business where he not only delivered but also was a great mentor and teacher.

“Other than being a Red Sox fan, I could never find fault with Kevin. He could have been my wing man any time.”

For more remembrances of Kevin Morrissey, visit MR's Community Forum.

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