Thomas McCormack, longtime head of St. Martin's Press, died on Saturday, June 15, at age 92.
As St. Martin's wrote, "McCormack was a legend in the industry. He inspired a generation of publishing leaders through his generosity of spirit and knowledge, business savvy, and deep passion for the work we do as publishers. Quite simply, he was one of a kind and his impact will be felt for years to come."
McCormack began his book publishing career at Doubleday in 1959, as an editor for Anchor Books. Later, he held executive roles at Harper and Perennial Books, New American Library (where he headed Signet Classics), before becoming CEO of St. Martin's Press in 1970. During his tenure as CEO, St. Martin's grew from $2.5 million in annual billing to more than $250 million. As editorial director, he edited such landmark titles as James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs, and M.M. Kaye's The Far Pavilions, among other books. McCormack also published his own book The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist, as well as two plays, American Roulette and Endpapers (the latter of which had an Off-Broadway run).
George Witte, senior v-p & editor in chief of the St. Martin's Publishing Group remembered, "Tom was a meticulous, perceptive editor and a canny businessman, who built St. Martin's from a small operation to one of the fastest-growing, most commercial publishers in the business. But more than anything, he was a teacher, and the time he gave to young editors was extraordinary. An unusual number of the assistants at St. Martin's have gone onto significant executive and editorial careers--a lasting legacy of Tom's mentoring."
Bob Miller, president & publisher of Flatiron Books, shared: "We all know the stories: talking in abbreviations, sharing the tuna fish sandwich at editorial meetings, reading the name of every submission out loud so nothing would be missed. But what I'm left with is Tom's relentless urge to teach. Whether you were an editorial assistant, a publicist, or an art director, Tom wanted you to know how a profit and loss statement worked, how a book was printed, how a book was shipped (and returned), and why every novel should have a character to root for. He wanted us all to think like publishers, to see the whole picture. Tom will forever be holding court on the 18th floor of the Flatiron Building, old-fashioned adding machine at this side, cigar in his hand, rooting for all of us."
Macmillan publisher-at-large Sally Richardson said, "Tom was a true original--with guts, charm, integrity--and not a false bone in his body. In addition to a great fearlessness and a sense of adventure about the book business, he had a genius for discovering talent. Some of the biggest successes in the business today are those discovered, supported, and inspired by Tom. We all owe him a lot. He was a wonderful boss, friend, partner--and a hell of a publisher!"
A memorial service for McCormack will be held at noon this Sunday, June 23, at Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 W. 76th St., New York, N.Y. 10023.