35 years ago, 1987, when I started my company, I had a client who lived in an upscale Coop apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side who needed to move to California.  They had very fine furniture including a large antique wardrobe and an impressive collection of contemporary art and expensive collection of sculpture. I assured the client that we would get his treasured possessions to California on schedule and “without a scratch”.  I knew I had to find the best, most reliable and respectful moving company around.  Opening the Business Yellow Pages (back then when these huge paper books were the primary resource for businesses to advertise and clients to find services they needed). Many moving companies were listed with similar eye-catching graphics and standard phrases “reliable”, “satisfaction guaranteed”, “more experienced than any other business”, “10% discount for new clients”.

Then, one ad grabbed my attention. A green shamrock logo, simple unembellished wording and one key phrase “We work with you to take care of your possessions”.  “Liffey Van Lines”. I knew of the historic river in Ireland named Liffey.  So, I called Liffey and set up an appointment for a representative to come to the client’s home to learn what I needed for my client and get an estimate for this formidable move. Who did they send but Danny Malone, owner of Liffey.  I’ll never forget that meeting, Danny arrived with all sorts of promotional items; key chains, pens, pencils, coasters, magnetized refrigerator calendar, ball cap and, of course an impressive brochure detailing Liffey’s services with guarantees of client satisfaction.  Danny and I knew we were a great match.  Under Danny’s supervision, his crew packed the priceless artwork, crated the sculpture, carefully wrapped the ‘bric-a-brac’, clothing and beautiful dinner place settings. They dismantled the huge wardrobe with precision.  They wrote thorough, and legible, Bills of Lading and Inventory.

Everything arrived in California on schedule and “without a scratch”.  Our client was delighted.  I knew Liffey would be my primary moving company to call on going forward.

On Monday, January 10, Danny J. Malone, the creator of Liffey Van Lines and a host of subsidiary companies he developed, died.  “A sad day for Liffey” his manager said in his email telling me of Danny’s passing.  He was a quintessential entrepreneur, creative deal maker, unstoppable, and always client centered.  He started with a single truck in 1974.  Today, Liffey has a branch in Mahopac, Long Island, many large secure storage facilities fleets of trucks and a large and very loyal staff.  

I attended both his wake on Friday at Frank Campbell Funeral home on Madison Avenue, and the  Requiem Mass at St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church where Danny and his wife Rose were married.  Both services were packed with people whose lives he touched – family, colleagues, associates, clients and many employees.  Members of a special chapter of Irish cultural club flew in from Ireland to pay their respects.

For me, Danny was a mentor and friend.  I will continue to value the lessons of life and business I learned from him. 

Thank you, Danny.  May you rest in Peace.  And, keep moving.

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