It was almost a year ago to the day, at the centennial celebration of our Baltimore-based, third generation freight forwarding/customs brokerage business, that we heard Helen Delich Bentley speak about her history with our founder, my grandfather — and about her role in fighting for the development of the Port of Baltimore.
Ms. Bentley, at 92, passed away this weekend.
In the Baltimore Sun obituary ("Helen Delich Bentley, congresswoman who was a staunch advocate of the port of Baltimore, dies," Aug. 6), she was referred to as a "force in the business of the port." They got that right; she certainly was an uninhibited, driven ball of fire. But she was much more than that. She was a pioneer for women generally, and for our industry specifically.
RIP, Helen.
And thank you.
Marjorie Shapiro, Baltimore
The writer is president and CEO of Samuel Shapiro & Company, Inc.