By Erin Fuller, President, Association Solutions, MCI USA, McLean office
I remember one of the last times I saw Stan Knight. He was coming out of an adjacent office from a meeting, and he leaned in my doorway, arms crossed, smile on his face. Stan was an expert leaner, someone who always looked comfortable regardless of where he was.
“Stan!” I said, with a grin across my face – he had that effect on everyone. “We never see you now that you are up on the sixth floor – you need to visit more.”
“Ah, Erin – I like to keep my visits special… like I am a guest star.”
And I replied, “That makes total sense – but it is our loss for sure.”
Death is always sad, but when an inordinately talented 35-year-old beloved husband and father to a four-year-old son dies unexpectedly, the loss is tragic, wrenching and painful. Stan worked as a designer for MCI USA for six years, and in the same conference room where we exchanged gifts and ate cake to celebrate the birth of his son, we now gathered to learn of and begin to mourn his loss.
If MCI USA had an office popularity contest, Stan would have effectively made it not a contest at all, winning handily. His warmth, gentle nature, intelligence and sense of humor made meetings more fun. When you walked into the room and Stan was there, you could feel the emotional temperature become warmer, lighter, better. He was excellent at his job – I remember one client pitch where within 24 hours he had put together (after some abject begging on my part) a transformation of a client newsletter to show the power MCI USA could bring to that group. I rarely believe we have won a pitch while still in the room, but I remember the looks around the table when we came to his design – and knew Stan had won that client for us. His work crossed our various business units and clients, and chances are you have seen some of his excellent design work.
Knowing the sense of loss and grief we all feel at work gives us the tiniest glimpse into the sorrow that Stan’s family and friends must be experiencing as well. If there is one thing we do well at MCI, it is support each other and communities – and so you can imagine the rush of support for our colleagues and Stan’s family. Our commitment will last a long time, in part because we bear the responsibility to bear witness to his son how great he was at his job, and what a good friend he was to so many.
I was talking to a colleague earlier today – she had the same fatigued, teary look on her face that I probably had, and I asked her how she was doing. She replied, “I am so lucky I got to work with him.” And of course, that simple, lovely statement nearly ruined me in its perfection. We are all so sad, and so lucky.
Rest in peace, Stan. You are so incredibly missed.
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The celebration of Stan Knight’s Life will be held Wednesday, July 31st, in Clarksburg, Maryland. The McLean office will be closed that day until 1:30 p.m. so that all who would like to attend are able to do so.
Celebration of Life
– In loving memory of –
Stanley “Jay” Knight, Jr.
September 9, 1983 – July 16, 2019
Wednesday, July 31st, 2019
Viewing: 9 to 11am
Funeral Service: 11 to 12pm
Church of the Redeemer
22616 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg, MD 20871
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