I Hope Heaven Exists, Trey Pennington

In memoriam Trey Pennington

A tribute to Trey Pennington, a great storyteller and ‘social’ man but most of all a great human being. It was an honor to have been inspired and touched by him.

Dear Trey, I sent you a long mail end of June and replied to your many FB updates, hoping it could make a difference in the ocean of feelings and well-meant support at that time.

We only got to know each other this year, when you did such an incredible effort just to come over here and spread your message of what human beings crave for. I will always be grateful to Olivier Blanchard for having offered me the marvelous opportunity to get to know you, Trey, and discover the great person you are. Yes, the great person you are because, despite the news that you are not among us anymore, you will continue to exist in my mind and probably that of many many thousands you have touched with your words and your amazing and genuine interest in people.

The message you shared was loud and clear, Trey. It was warm, empathic and profound. You knew what human beings can go through and what they need. You called it the human hunger. You said every one of us has a desire to be heard, be understood and count. I will never forget your words, the orange Clemson tigerpaw cap, the bandanas and how I deeply and emotionally connected with you, Trey. I will always remember the hugs and the words we continued sharing after we met.

I feel incredibly saddened by the news that reached me, Trey, and so are many others. I am still hoping it is not true, but it is. I read it. And it hurts. You know I am not a religious person, Trey, and I know you are but today I really hope that heaven exists. I really do. Because that is the only place you should be now if there is a God. And if he exists, I don’t understand why he needed you, Trey, but maybe that’s exactly the point. Doesn’t he work in mysterious ways? Today, understanding doesn’t matter. I only hope there is a heaven, and I’m hoping you can read my message to you, Trey. I know, it’s grieving, but the word is all I know. I hope you hear this message that says, “I am grateful I knew you and was touched by your kindness”. I am really grateful for that. Truly.

I will never forget this moment,Trey

I feel frustrated I couldn’t cause a change, Trey, and I know many others will. However, that’s me. That’s us. It’s grieving and caring. I can carry on saying how I will miss you, how I wish we could have made a difference and how you were too good and kind. Truth is I will miss you, Trey. I already do.

Did we miss your desire to be heard? Why? What? These questions don’t matter, Trey. I am so sorry and feel a very close bond with your friends, family and everyone that had the occasion to be touched by your being. We all grieve and I really wish we were all united in different circumstances.

Maybe that’s why I really hope that better place exists. And I know that I will pray a lot today. I love you, Trey Pennington and I will never forget you, nor the people that also love you. And I sincerely hope that once we will meet again somewhere.

You were and will always be a unique and amazing person. It feels weird to listen to your voice right now, but at the same time it only reminds me of your great self.  It feels weird to see your mail I haven’t answered yet, Trey. And I feel so sorry about that.

I will really never forget you, Trey Pennington. You have left a deep impression on so many of us.

I hope my words and message of love will comfort some people that will miss you. Thank you for the memories and the fact our paths have crossed.

• Heartbroken, a tribute to Trey Pennington by @thebrandbuilder
• Interview with Trey Pennington
• Trey Pennington: Feeding What Humans Hunger for with Social Media
• Trey Pennington: Storyteller

Goodbye, Trey

Goodbye, Trey. This is how I will always remember you: caring.

Trey Pennington strongly emphasized the human dimension and aspects of marketing and business. He had a values-based (as in human values), need-centric and emotion-driven approach, making him, in fact, a forerunner in what is now known as Marketing 3.0.

This is the intellectual legacy of Trey. Read it and pass his message on.