Friends and Colleagues Remember Avin Mark Domnitz

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Former ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz died on Saturday, June 27. Since then, friends and colleagues have been offering their thoughts on a man who was a passionate advocate for independent booksellers, a good friend, and a loving husband and father.

Oren Teicher, American Booksellers Association, Chief Executive Officer, 2009 – Present

Avin was a powerful force who influenced a whole generation of booksellers. His educational sessions changed the way stores operate and, without a doubt, laid the groundwork for the success many ABA members are experiencing today.

His leadership during tumultuous times — both as a Board member and as president, as well as his service as CEO — still shapes so much of what ABA does today. With the antitrust litigation and ABACUS, Book Sense and IndieBound, the creation of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the first Winter Institute, and so much more, Avin left an indelible mark.

I had the high honor and privilege of working with Avin for almost 20 years, and I learned a great deal from him. He continues to influence me today and will for the remainder of my tenure at ABA. To simply say thank you seems so woefully inadequate. ABA, and I, will forever be in his debt.

Avin was an extraordinary person who did the thing that all of us hope to accomplish in our lives — make a real and discernible difference for those he left behind. Bookselling in America is stronger today because of Avin, and in his honor and memory we commit to carry on and keep up the fight.

A friend suggested on Facebook that one way all of us could honor Avin would be to go to our favorite indie bookstore and buy a few books in his memory. Lots of us will do just that....

Betsy Burton, The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah; ABA President, 2015 – Present

Avin Domnitz was CEO of the American Booksellers Association when I served on the Booksellers Advisory Council, and listening to him at meetings, I was wowed time and again by his vision and his enthusiasm. He not only had one grand idea after another, he had a way of talking about those ideas that made them seem not just brilliant but real, doable. He was also a born teacher. As just one example among many, he not only sold us on the necessity of participating in ABACUS, but worked with us individually (and patiently — he never acted as if we were as stupid as we no doubt seemed to be) as we struggled to fill out the dreaded paperwork. At The King’s English, we credit his “2% Solution” with saving our lives back in the late ’90s when independent stores found themselves suddenly fighting for survival. After listening to him talk, we’d try mightily to apply his formulas, and when we came up against situations in which we had trouble getting our numbers down he’d work with us in person or on the phone until we figured out solutions to our financial woes. I doubt there’s a bookseller who was in the business back then who can’t still hear him say, “It’s in the payroll.”

Avin could be hard-nosed. When I appealed to him, many years ago now, to incorporate the idea of Local First into ABA education, he demanded that I prove to him that it would actually be of benefit to booksellers. He then listened intently while I made a case for why it in fact would be, grilling me like the trial attorney he had been.

He could also be as soft-hearted as anyone I’ve ever met. We had a party years ago honoring legendary Salt Lake City bookseller Sam Weller, who at the time had already retired after losing his eyesight. Sam was as fiery, charismatic, and passionate about books as ever, and Avin sat with him all evening long, laughing his uproarious laugh while they traded stories about books and authors and trade shows past. Avin was clearly having fun himself, but he was just as clearly paying tribute to an esteemed colleague.

Avin himself was equally feisty, charismatic, and passionate about books, always on the lookout for the next great piece of history, the next book on baseball, the next good thriller, spreading the word with enthusiasm about the ones he loved — ever a bookseller at heart. He was also passionate about this industry to which he devoted such a large piece of his life and so much of his genius. We owe him more than we can begin to express.

Steve Bercu, BookPeople, Austin, Texas; ABA President, 2013 – 2015

Avin was a powerful force at ABA when I first became involved in any of its activities. He seemed to be involved in everything that booksellers were doing anywhere. His “2% Solution” was truly revolutionary in that context. It made booksellers focus on the “business” part of the bookselling business and that formed the foundation for many booksellers to stay in business. The principles many of us discovered there have carried on to form the basis of much of the education that booksellers get now, and that education continues to be a major part of our success.

Over the years, I had the opportunity to get to know Avin and share stories with him. His broad range of interests and his sense of humor are things I will always remember. He will be missed.

Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, Arizona; ABA President, 2008 – 2009

Avin was a big man in so many ways beyond his physical size. He thought about the big picture, he tried big solutions to hard problems, and pushed us all to be big in our lives as booksellers. In addition, he was creative and passionate about the book world, first as a bookstore owner, then as an ABA Board member, and finally as CEO.

We had big arguments, he and I, and we fought passionately for what we thought was the “right” direction for the Board, the organization, and, of course, our booksellers. But the conversations were always to move us forward, to heighten our awareness of pressing issues that were facing booksellers at the turn of the century. I learned a tremendous amount from Avin over the years, and wouldn’t have my two successful stores had I not heeded his counsel. He was a brilliant man and loved his work, his family, and the book world. I will miss him terribly. 

Russ Lawrence, formerly of Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton, Montana; ABA President, 2006 – 2008

Running a trade association is an entirely different ball game than running one’s own bookstore, but Avin excelled at both. He never, ever lost sight of ABA’s end goal — that of empowering independent bookstores to be as successful as possible — even while he navigated the association through its own difficulties. During my six years on the ABA Board (two of those as president), my admiration for Avin only grew with each encounter.

Jean and I send our heartfelt condolences to his family, whom he openly adored.

Mitchell Kaplan, Books & Books, Miami, Florida; ABA President, 2004 – 2006

Avin’s death leaves a gaping hole for so many of us. His influence on the industry is the stuff of legend. He helped turn around the ABA at a very difficult juncture for the organization; he laid the groundwork for what is now a blossoming for independent bookselling. He knew that we all had to get our financial houses in order if we were to survive, and he also knew that we’d have to fight for a level playing field if we were to compete. He was fierce and fearless, but never reckless. And his legacy will live on in every bookstore that keeps its doors open and every new bookstore that enters the marketplace.

As a friend, Avin was always there for me. I could talk to him about books of all kinds, the ones written by Alan Furst or Richard Ford or the ones prepared by my bookkeeper — ones that were, at times, possessing of more angst than any contemporary novel. I will miss him. I send my love to Rita and his family at this very difficult time.

Ann Christophersen, formerly of Women & Children First, Chicago; ABA President, 2002 – 2004

Avin was a force of nature and of intellect. As a Board member and president of ABA, I saw his work up close, and it was clear that he was driven by a sense of mission.

He was passionate in his conviction that independent bookstores could survive the tumult and have a future, providing that he, booksellers, and a great ABA staff could create and focus on the best new ideas and develop plans to put them into action. He believed he was the person to lead that effort, and most of his colleagues believed that, too. He was a vigorous, indefatigable leader who had a deep and abiding regard for booksellers and for his staff. He was also a very personable, funny, and thoughtful guy. I am grateful to have known him, and, of course, for all he did for us booksellers.

Richard Howorth, Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi; ABA President, 1998 – 2000

Looking through some old e-mails I had written to Avin for some proper words to honor him, I found an exchange from January 2002. Immediately it was obvious that the best and most articulate way to do this was with Avin’s own words, where his humor, wisdom, and devotion to family shine clearly. 9/11 had occurred only a few months earlier, and he said this:

“It really has been an incredible year. Our whole world has changed … we never will be the same. I don’t worry so much about myself or our contemporaries, but about our children. For the first time they have a keen sense of mortality, a sense that I believe they shouldn’t have to deal with just yet. Sometimes I feel like the catcher in the rye, hoping that I can soften the fall from grace with my mitt. But, sadly, we can only do so much and the world is, ultimately, what it is.”

I had also reported to him a 28th anniversary Lisa and I had reached, and, in this same e-mail, he added, “….happy anniversary to you and condolences to Lisa. As my father-in-law would say, ‘28 years shot to hell.’ As a person who has been married for almost 35 years, I can tell you it just keeps getting better.”

Avin was a brilliant, deeply good man with a talent for balancing his many diverse interests, from bookselling to baseball. He brightened the world we live in and succeeded in making things better.

Chuck Robinson, Village Books, Bellingham, Washington; ABA President, 1992 – 1994

Avin was a colleague, a mentor, and a dear friend. I worked closely with him for several years on the ABA Board, where we served during my presidency and his. Avin’s financial savvy, along with his fierce belief in books and independent booksellers, is undoubtedly largely responsible for the resurgence of indie bookstores. He could be deadly serious and wildly humorous, often within the same conversation, and I never had to guess what he was thinking.

Independent bookselling has lost a great champion. I’ll miss him dearly.

Len Vlahos, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, Colorado; ABA Chief Operating Officer, 2009 – 2011

Avin gave me maybe the best piece of advice I’ve ever received: “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” It’s been a guiding principle in my life ever since. Not that I don’t — and not that Avin didn’t — strive for perfection, but that getting hung up on minutiae can obscure the big picture and slow down progress. It’s one of many pieces of advice that I gathered from him over the years.

On a more personal note, in the decade I worked with Avin on the ABA staff, we traveled a lot together. The best trip of all was a meeting — an ABA Forum, I think — in Milwaukee. Avin was so proud to show me his hometown. He took me out for brats, took me to a Bucks game, and took me to his favorite spot, Kopp’s Custard. After that trip, and after he left ABA, he would occasionally text me a photo of the Kopp’s flavor of the day displayed on the company’s marquee. When I was in Milwaukee last year, it had been a while since Avin and I had spoken. I drove out of my way to get a photo of the Kopp’s marquee and texted Avin. He called a few minutes later and we caught up.

Avin was both a mentor and a friend, and I’ll miss him terribly. I should also note that he is survived by one of the most truly wonderful families I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I’ve been fortunate to get to know Rita and all four kids... they are a reflection of what a wonderful life Avin lived.

Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

On his blog, Goldin, who was a longtime staff member at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, reflects back on the first time he met Avin and how over the years he got to know him much better — “Avin’s enthusiasm and drive, his sense of humor, and, most of all, his family.” Below is a short excerpt; read Goldin’s full blog posting here.

Avin did great things, both for bookselling in Milwaukee, and then later for booksellers all over the country; and, of course, the wonderful family he raised, the people he guided. He had a number of gifts, not just his ability to lead, but to inspire and to give, and that has touched a lot of people. But perhaps the most lasting gifts are the shared memories and the thought that when I’m in a bind, I can think to myself, “What would Avin do?”