Burson, 89, charmed the more than 500 people at City College of New York’s Graduate Center by simply telling the story of his life with Bette. It was a story well told. It was powerful PR.
The Burson-Marsteller co-founder first met his future wife when his WWII pen pal decided to drop by Burson’s NYC tenement for a visit with the then-Bette Foster. The former reporter told the audience that Foster was “informed and well-formed.” He made sure that he got her phone number. After the third date, Harold knew he would marry Bette, “though she didn’t know it at the time.” A confident Burson bought an engagement ring and gave it to Bette. Her mother then called to put an end to the nuptials, telling Harold her daughter was not mature enough to marry. Savvy communicator Harold assured her that Bette would grow into it. The future mother-in-law then offered to foot the bill for either a big wedding or a newly furnished apartment for the couple. Burson said: “We had a very small wedding.”
Bette attended Katherine Gibbs secretarial school and eventually worked with Harold when he opened his PR business. She left after five years upon giving birth to their first son. Burson called himself a “weekend father,” especially when he saw the potential to build Burson-Marsteller into a global powerhouse. He gave Bette all the credit for raising their sons during the turbulent 1960s and '70s, keeping them on the straight and narrow. “I took care of business. She took care of the family,” said Burson.
When the boys were grown, the couple traveled the world together for pleasure and on B-M business. Bette was Harold’s “wife, companion and best friend.”
The first sign of Bette’s brain tumor occurred earlier this year after she had a fender-bender while trying to squeeze into a parking space. A lawyer called Burson to complain about damage to his car. Harold asked Bette whether she had an accident, and she replied “no.” Harold went into his garage to check the car and found scratches and paint marks on the side next to a wall. After Bette’s second accident, Burson told her that she had to see an ophthalmologist. She did, but was referred to a neurologist. That appointment was made, Harold telling the audience “at our age we have doctors for everything.”
The day of the check-up, Burson had a board meeting in D.C. He had offered to go with Bette to the doctor, but she had a ride and didn’t think Harold’s presence was necessary. After receiving the call about Bette’s inoperable brain tumor, Harold rushed home to Scarsdale.
Bette was given six months to live. Bette and Harold decided that she would not seek treatment for the tumor. They were told that treatment would add only two months to Bette’s life. Burson said Bette lived life to the fullest for the first three months, but later struggled, especially after the ever-talkative Bette lost the ability to communicate.
Burson said his wife wanted to be remembered with “cheers, not tears.” A champagne toast to Bette Burson capped the celebration of her life.
Harold deserves a toast from the PR community for being one of its all-time best. His kind is rare these days.
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