A Tribute to Susie Henry – Luna Park on Legs

Much has been written about Susie Henry’s life at Leo Burnett, however before she began her acclaimed career at Burnett’s, she had been celebrated for more than two decades at Lintas Advertising.  Deborah Light shares an insight into that time…

When she was being promoted to the senior position of PA to the executive chairman of Lintas Advertising, Susie was told to stop wearing hot pants to work; that kind of dress was unsuitable in this new role, they said.

That lasted until maybe Thursday when she turned up in pink hotpants and a matching waistcoat, both sequin-trimmed.  It was around 1970 and Susie had returned to Lintas after waitressing around Europe with a bunch of girls from school, travelling by combie van. At Lintas she was already a legend.

She built on that legend over the next 20 years through a succession of CEOs to whom she become aide, confidante, chauffeur, and simply indispensable. It had nothing to do with secretarial skills. Susie never filed a piece of paper and, by her own admission, her shorthand was rubbish. Other PAs remember regular visits from typewriter mechanics because Susie‘s false fingernails kept getting caught in the keys.

But she came to run her bosses’ lives, down to their health fund claims, holidays plans and birthday gifts. When required, Susie fended off all comers – including their families and often their lovers. Her memory was near faultless, as were her manners and tact. Her discretion was such that, when she was informed that her great – and clandestine – love at the agency was to be terminated, she never let on – and that was it.

Several men fell in love with Susie on sight during her time at Lintas, including an American who sent her air tickets to Japan then took her sailing around the Greek Isles. She flicked him. Always on the move, always on “a mission”, Susie loved her ‘boys’ but she never wanted someone full-time in her life. She was supremely content in her own company, which is seemingly at odds with the fact she maintained the many tribes of friends that she’d made over her life – right back to kindergarten – including her Lintas buddies.

Party? You bet? It was something Lintas did almost as often and almost as well as they did advertising. In the water, on the water, indoors, outdoors, night or day – and Susie was forever at the centre, radiating fun:  Luna Park on Legs.

And of course, she looked the part. Susie has stuck to her show-time style, deaf to criticism, over decades. She’s also attracted a lot of praise too. The persona included false fingernails, eyelashes, blonde hairpieces, shoulder pads and layers of make-up. Once asked why she didn’t wear contact lenses, Susie said: “I couldn’t fit another thing on.”

Boldly, brazenly, Susie has made the most of all she’s been offered in life and never bothered what others might think. She’s always been up for a drink and a party – so let’s hope she’s amongst it all now. Susie’s tribes – including her Lintas mates – continue to grieve our great loss.

Hey babe, please save us a seat at the bar.