Top Shelf Todd Stories
Tyler Shernoff
Sarah and Anna became best friends before they could even sit up. They met at four months old and have stayed close ever since. Todd, therefore, came into our lives shortly after and always loved to encourage their friendship.
When the girls were four years old, he first invited Anna to join Sarah at the Four Seasons Kids Kitchen (a children's cooking class taught by a professional celebrity chef). It didn't matter that the starting age was 5---Todd signed them up anyway. The girls loved it, and he earmarked it as a new tradition.
Every Fall since, I have received a text from Todd with the date of the cooking class and asking if Anna could go. She always has, and it has remained something the girls look forward to year after year. He never would accept a penny from me and repeatedly told me it was "his gift." Every year the class takes place in December, and it often marks the beginning of the "Holiday Season" as they marvel at the beautiful tree decorated in the hotel lobby.
Now that they're twelve, the cooking is secondary to the tradition of dressing up and going together. The girls attend different schools and don't see each other as often as they'd like, but this serves as a moment in time in which they can pick up as if they've never spent a day apart. Todd always, ALWAYS knew how important togetherness was and fostering his daughters' friendships proved just as significant to him as his own. He loved seeing everyone happy and enjoying an experience. Todd would do anything to make everyone around him happy and feeling included--the ultimate host.
Kim Orsi
Todd and I go way back at least 20+ years. From working together, happy hours at Bradleys, parties, dinners, breakdancing, and trips together. Todd is always amazing at getting the best bang for your buck! Whether it's bourbon, buying cars or room rates from UBS, BOA, MS, JP Morgan, Citibank ( or any other firm we didn't work for lol). He negotiated 3 or 4 lease deals for me and alway got me the most amazing deals! I cooked for Todd and Deb a few times but one night he wanted Chicken Marsala and while it wasn't Marcello's, he did have 2 helpings! The next day he sent me videos and recipes that Marcello had shared with him which was very thoughtful because he knows how much I love to cook. Todd has a heart of gold and would take the shirt off his back to help anyone! I have so many stories from break dancing, food to Vanilla Ice. Todd knows how much I love Vanilla Ice and when he was with him he would always send me videos and pictures. I could write for hours but here's a few. I love you buddy!
Christine DiRocco
I would never have thought that 18 years later, we would be here! Me regaling our beautiful friendship and preparing to say goodbye. All those years ago when I met you and Deb while planning your wedding… and so many laughs, fun, love, joy and celebrations enjoyed together.
You two beauties showed up to meet your Catering Manager, Joe, remember? He resigned from the Kravis and I HAD to take over the planning. I say HAD to because I never wanted to plan weddings and on the heels of a brutal break-up, I had to put my “game face” on and meet you two. WOW, what a moment…! The universe had bigger plans of joy and fun in store for us that I never could have imagined on that day. Sooo funny.
Now, I look back and I can’t understand why I am not in your giant group photo of your wedding??! Ha! Are you sure I am not sneaking in somewhere in the outer periphery?? As we have become such beautiful and long lasting friends, I can’t believe I am not in that picture. But, as I have come to understand, people just don’t cross Todd’s path, once you approach the path, you are on it for life. Todd, you are like a proud and prolific wine collector… you have beautiful friends and relationships of all vintages, varied varietals from all areas and regions of your life. And, you enjoy and cherish each one and savor the relationship. Sip, sip, hooray for us.
Todd, you are distinct and exceptional human being – you walk in love, joy and generosity. You are loyal and loving to your friends, a beacon of joy and laughter, you are an advocate for small businesses, a connector of people, a light for all. You are generous with your time and attention to other causes and use your enthusiasm and influence to gather others in support to lift them up. Your love radiates to your core as a stalwart friend with a limitless sense of humor (remember that time you pretended to be a lawyer?), I still laugh about that. I was at the Norton the other day and that is always the memory that pops in my head, not the Chihuly ceiling, but you pretending to be an attorney. How many events have we been to where we just bump into each other and carry on with champagne, laughing, memories and adventures?
Antique shows, cocktail parties in banks, receptions at Kravis, opera outings, symphony performances, WEF, Mar-A-Lago, Boys’ & Girls’ Club, New Year’s parties, birthday parties, cheese celebrations, wine tastings, dinner parties, more birthdays… love, joy, thoughtfulness, and generosity always carries the day!
And, then, there is polo. I think we did it all - brunch, tailgates, box seats (thank you, Ritz Carlton), Mallet Grill, Seventh Chukker, more Veuve, Nacho Figueras and one of my favorite memories is the day we had nachos on a platter the size of a small satellite dish. SOOOO YUMMY! The best nachos ever, but it was probably your company and joy more than the toppings. Everything is big and generous with you, Todd! Generous of hospitality, spirit, love and joy. I think you even brought presents and lunch for all your nurses and I can’t even imagine how you got your neighbors to agree to your epic house parties!
I never think that you were beaten by this disease, it might have presented challenges, but you overcame with another beautiful facet of you – tenacity. The joy continued as you traveled with your family. You threw more parties. Bigger parties! More dinners. More JOY! Joy carries the day for you Todd and Deb and you have given me a very special gift… embracing the joy. Despite physical setbacks, you persevered. You inspired me on my saddest days… I see your happy face and how can I be sad with such a beautiful friendship. My heart is filled. Your precious Deb and your beautiful girls will be surrounded with the love you have shown to others. You are one in a million, my beautiful friend. Our friendship is one of the greatest joys of my life. Thank you for being you. xoxo
Nicole Wolosoff
Todd is the absolute definition of love. I have always been so inspired by his humor, love for life and passion for work and his family. Todd always makes me feel included and is super engaged and helpful in whatever way he can. I feel grateful to have been able to be around his infectious energy and zest for life.
Amy Wolosoff
I’ll start with a few Todd/Deb wedding related stories that have really stayed with me. I’d spent some time with Todd before he and Deb married but at that point I was still getting to know him. When we got to the hotel in the Keys for Deb’s bachelorette weekend there was already a fantastic spread waiting for us, arranged by Todd, along with a note. It was such a generous, thoughtful and romantic thing to do and the perfect way to kick off celebrating Deb and their upcoming wedding.
Then at the wedding itself, the officiant (I think Todd’s sister, but my memory of who said it is a little fuzzy) relayed that she had separately spoken to Todd and Deb about how they felt about getting married and each expressed that they were as happy being together as they could imagine anyone could be. It’s one of the loveliest sentiments I’ve heard at any wedding - and I’ve been to a lot - and I remember thinking how lucky Todd and Deb were to have found each other and how happy I felt for them both.
Finally the wedding party, which was so much fun (my first experience of a Todd/Deb hosted event - they are always amazing!). One of my favorite things about Jewish weddings is when everyone dances the hora and then lifts the bride and groom in chairs. Having grown up going to Jewish celebrations I’d often wondered, has anyone ever fallen out of one of those chairs? Todd’s chair tipped forward (which I now know is a story in and of itself) and I finally saw it happen in person, I couldn’t believe it. What amazed me most was how gracefully Todd landed on his feet and just kept celebrating! Todd might be part cat or maybe he’s Spider-Man, but whatever accounted for it, it was incredibly impressive!
I got to know Todd better when I was lucky enough to vacation a few times with Deb, Todd and Deb’s extended family. What struck me then, and in times we’ve gotten together for family events since, was that Todd on multiple occasions has made a point to let me know when a side extended plan to hang out was made and that I was welcomed and included. Given the struggles of my own family of origin, I can’t adequately convey how much that has always meant to me. Thank you Todd, I love you and am so grateful you joined our family!