Bob Tomsich served as Chairman and CEO of Nesco, Inc., heading up thousands of employees, while his wife enjoyed her interaction with children as a teacher. Together the couple were philanthropists, giving much back to the Cleveland community. The Robert J Tomsich Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute of the Cleveland Clinic bears Bob’s name.
Some years before I met him, Bob and Sue had received the gift of a portrait of the two of them that never saw the light of day. It was an embarrassment, a gift they couldn't return, so it found its place in the closet. A close friend of Bob’s, Jack Kahl, offered him a portrait that the couple could be proud to display among their large collection of paintings.
Once again, I was the second artist to take on the project. Why was my portrait of them accepted? Perhaps it was because I enlisted their input when it came time to select the faces, hand positions, poses, and background to be portrayed. I also respected their request for a painting done on a smaller scale because their walls were already crowded. When delivered, the painting was hung directly on their wall.
