Robert A. Mullen, my father, was an amazing man

 

On January 17, 2022, my father, Robert A. Mullen passed away at his home in Denver.  He was an amazing man, father, husband and friend to so many.  I was in awe of his scope of knowledge, his wit, sense of humor and creativity.

He was born in Alexandria, Minnesota on April 28, 1922.  Can you imagine a kid going to school with a cap, bow tie and a lunch basket today?  The car was a Ford Model T coupe.  Henry Ford said you could have it in any color as long as it was black.

The local hardware store was having a contest on who could submit the exact number of keys that were in a large glass jar on the counter.  Well, my dad did and he won the bike.  His father had brought some rope along that day in anticipation that he would.  The funny thing, when they got home, my dad realized he had never ridden a bike before.

He served with the United States Army Air Force during World War II.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he ended up in Bemidji, Minnesota, as manager of their first radio station, KBUN. 

It was in Bemidji where he met my mom, Lorraine R. Hedean, who was in her first year of teaching.  

 

 

They were married in June of 1948.  Later they moved to Minneapolis where he was hired to start up the radio station, KEYD, as a commissioned salesman.  He told me he made $21.00 the first month on the job.  He went on to open his own Advertising & Public Relations firm.  Not too many years later, an Alexandria newspaper reported that the ad agency had exceeded a million dollars in billing.  

 

My parents (back left) having dinner at the Copacabana in New York City.

 

 

Out for dinner in Minneapolis, 1948.

 

My brother Carter was born March of 1950.  I was born four years later on July 4th.  After Carter contracted pneumonia two years in a row, my parents said good bye to friends and family, shuttered the agency and moved to Arizona.  My dad went on to open another Advertising and PR agency and it was one of the three oldest agencies in the state.

My parents built a few homes, one in Minneapolis area and two in the valley.  One north of Cave Creek and another in Carefree.  It was the Cave Creek house where I had my own horse and eventually my dad bought a horse and I taught him how to ride.  I think that was the first time I could boss my dad around!  And get away with it.

My dad, on the left, with a student and Headmaster John Yellott at Phoenix Country Day School where Carter and I graduated from.  This was a groundbreaking ceremony for one of the new buildings.  He was a member of the school's Broad of Trustees during the school's formative years. 

Over the course of the years, he had written for both the meek and the mighty.  For a U.S. President (Eisenhower).  For major corporations and start-up companies.  For an army general (Hap Arnold).   After turning the reins of the agency over to Carter, he created a new career in freelance writing for major hospitals around the country.  Mayo Hospital being one of them.  The words he wrote were capital development (fund raising) letters to institutions and resulted in donor gifts which ran into the millions.

This is one of many stories I love.  Phelps Dodge Corporation was one of my dad's clients.  It was the largest copper producer in Arizona and the second largest in the United States.   He came up with an idea to create a free booklet offered by Phelps Dodge as an aid to all those interested in learning first-hand about Arizona's rich historical heritage.  Always as a team, my parents drove all over Arizona identifying and recording the historical markers by the side of the road.  Along with various important historic sites.   This 20-page booklet was given out at one of the main banks in town.  My dad had visions of them not moving and ending up with boxes and boxes of these booklets in his garage.  Well... "History by the side of the road" went into four printings and a run of more than 100,000 copies.   Year 1977.

He loved to fish.  This photo was taken up in Alaska where Carter and my dad were salmon fishing.

For over twenty some years, Carter and my dad would fly down to Ciudad Obregon, Mexico to Wingshooters to go dove and duck hunting.  It was an annual event that they both looked forward to.

In 1988 at my wedding at the University Club in Phoenix.

I attended the Instituto Allende, an art school in San Miguel de Allende,  Guanajuato, Mexico in 1974 and that same year, my parents bought a home in the historic center of town.  They ended up spending almost six months out of the year there.  This is the market where my dad would always buy flowers for my mom. They had to take a cab back to the house for the bundle of flowers was too big the carry.

My parents were always up for an adventure and loved to travel.  The majority of the time they would drive down to the "casa" from Scottsdale which enabled us to take numerous side trips and explore so many parts of Mexico.  Here we were over in Patzcuaro in the state of Michoacan.

A day over in Pozos (near San Miguel de Allende).

A weekend at Las Mananitas in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Many Christmas's were spent in San Miguel de Allende.  Here we are at our second home in town enjoying a wood burning fire, some appetizers and champagne up on the mirador, the rooftop patio that had an incredible view of the Parroquia church.

Their travels went beyond Mexico for they went to Ireland and many parts of Europe.  Besides Mexico, Ireland was their favorite country, one they visited six times.  Here they are standing in front of a lovely Irish cottage.  My dad had told me that in the early years, one's taxes were based on the size and on how many windows the house had! 

Early in their marriage and when Carter and I were young, they went to Europe for a few weeks.  The stories and the people they met were pretty impressive.

Len and my dad on a hike in Crested Butte, Colorado where we would often meet.  My parents driving up from Arizona and Len and I driving down from Denver.

At our home in San Miguel de Allende, Carter and I hosted a 60th year anniversary party for them.

When Carter went to work at the agency with my dad, he said, I can't go around calling you dad so he called him by his initials, RAM, which stuck.  To this day many of my dad's younger friends still called him RAM.  My parents came up to Denver to celebrate his 90th birthday and I had a big party for him.  And part of the decor was this RAM pinata I had made for him. 

After my brother passed away, they moved up to Denver nine years ago this May.  Len and I were fortunate to do so much with them and many of my friends included them in their lives.  Here we are at the Capital Grill celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary.

My mom passed away almost three years ago.  Even though he missed her everyday, he still had the strength and fortitude to look forward to the next day.  This was Christmas morning at my house.

Living alone, he found solace in his writing and he wrote up to the very end.  His RAMblings  touched on life, the political scene, his creative short stories and tales of his life experiences...  Always ending them with "Free thought!  Free speech!  Free Enterprise!"  I have many of his RAMblings that I have printed out and I know others have saved them too.  

His last Christmas card, below, touched so many with his words of wisdom.  Many responded that those words deeply impacted them on how they approached the new year and how to look at life in a kinder and more compassionate manner.  Actually one friend of my mom's framed it.

I could go on and on and on about the full life my father had.  He was blessed to have a loving wife of 72 years.  He would always say, "Your mother and I liked the same things and disliked the same things."   He had two children (Carter and me) in which they dearly treasured.  And a son-in-law, Len Waldmann, in which they considered their second son.   

He had a successful career, many, many friends, 3 1/2 months shy of 100 years and died suddenly in his own home.  We are saddened that he is no longer with us but find comfort that he did not suffer and that he lived and died on his own terms.   

He will always be the king of Advertising & PR and creative writing in my book.   Check the post I wrote about his "Corona Beer" photo and the "slogans" he came up with.  Right on and pretty funny.  Post:  April 20, 2021.

Dad, you will forever be missed.  Thank you for being such a great father, friend, mentor and for all the adventures we shared as a family.  He was so supportive of me and proud of all my accomplishments.  It was he who encouraged me to start leading tours to Mexico over 12 years ago.  And that has turned into a wonderful venture and opened up so many other doors and friendships.

Love you for ever,  your daughter Robin.

 

Robert A. Mullen

April 28, 1922 - January 17, 2022

 

 

 

International Museum of the Baroque in Puebla, Mexico - Part 1

My last time in Mexico, part of one of my tours was in Puebla and one morning I took my group to the breathtaking International Museum of Baroque.  What an exceptional experience!

The height of Baroque during the 17th and 18th centuries was a prolific time for art in Mexico. The museum's collection includes the religious and the secular, high-society and everyday life that represents all aspects of the culture at the time.

Upon arrival, it's the exterior of the building that is unbelievably striking.

The museum was designed by Japanese architect Toyoo Ho.  Ho was born in June of 1941 and is famous for creating conceptual architecture; the design,‭ ‬construction and function of a structure based on abstracted ideas or concepts.   He is known for the contemporary notion of a "simulated" city, and has been called "one of the world's most innovative and influential architects."

Completed in 2016, the building at its maximum height reaches 64 feet.  The exterior walls consists of sculptural concrete walls and slabs.  The surface features a brushed-hammered texture.

 A water feature is positioned at the center of this expansive patio.

The permanent exhibition includes eight exhibition halls, each with a different theme that provides a broad view of the various appearances of the Baroque.

You are able to get a perspective of the grand design with the two museum guards along the back wall.

This magnificent curved stairway leads to additional gallery space.

A large body of water surrounds the museum’s dynamic façade.

Look for my next post when I feature the interior and some of the exhibitions. 

This will definitely be on the agenda for my next tour to Puebla and Mexico City!