Our Legacy | Decades of Inspiration: NASA to Amazonia to Manhattan Bride

From our earthbound view, as the moon ascends we see it as “Moonrise.” But from the moon, astronauts see it as “Earthrise.” To have had the opportunity to contribute to the massive efforts that were the Apollo moonshots, by writing software for one of the missions, remains a great honor. I still recall how the head of the software group would hand out papers with that day’s new math he was developing for the task. Cutting edge, to be sure. (Photo: Earthrise By NASA Bill Anders)

MIT and ROCKET SCIENCE
After graduating from MIT, Rick wrote software under a NASA contract for one of the legendary Apollo Moonshots. That experience in precision and mission-critical planning laid the foundation for everything that followed — from coordinating complex charity events to guiding couples through the details of their wedding day and to creating a state-of-the-art website. The same focus and reliability that helped him create the software simulating the Apollo’s guidance system continue to inform every Manhattan Bride feature.

To be able to use what I had learned in my classes to work with such a wide variety of businesses and non-profits, was extremely gratifying.

HARVARD, HOLLYWOOD, and APPALACHIA
After earning his MBA from Harvard Business School with Distinction, Rick consulted for organizations ranging from Samuel Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood to the Bureau of Mines in Appalachia, Bankers Trust in Manhattan, and Inner-City community organizations in Boston’s Roxbury and East Los Angeles. Each project demanded practical solutions for executives and community leaders — sharpening the skills of efficiency, planning, and communication that became invaluable in both publishing and event planning.

Left column: Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, Olympian Suzy Chafee and yet another admirer,“Raiders of  the Lost Ark” star Karen Allen. A page from the Studio 54 magazine, with Jamie Lee Curtis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Mario and Melvin Van Peebles, Cathy St. George and Tony Danza.

STUDIO 54 and PUBLISHING
Before Manhattan Bride, Rick launched and published the magazine for the legendary Studio 54, the world’s most famous nightclub. Each week, he photographed and chronicled thecelebrity-filled evenings that defined a cultural era. That experience deepened his understanding of what makes an event unforgettable — joy, surprise, and detail — lessons that later shaped bothManhattan magazine, Manhattan Bride, and his charity events.

At one of our charity benefits, Manhattan Bride Contributing Editor and one of our “”All-Star Team,” Robin Leach, Rick, and NY Mets Hall of Fame ballplayer Keith Hernandez.

THE ORIGINAL ALL-STAR TEAM
He later transformed Studio 54 Magazine into Manhattan Magazine. Where he had previously covered parties and entertainment figures, he now featured New York’s major charity events and broadened his interviews to include leaders in business, the arts, sports, music, civil rights, and the environment. He needed help to meet that expanded vision, and help he got, from a remarkable team of contributing editors: Robin Leach (of TV’s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous), Anne Eisenhower (the noted interior designer and granddaughter of President Eisenhower), Randy Jones (the Cowboy of the Village People), and Tinkerbelle (an Andy Warhol muse). Together, they captured the city’s culture at its most vibrant.

In Tahiti on our photo shoot, Mareva, despite her beauty queen status as Miss France and Miss Tahiti, was incredibly thoughtful, regarding all those on her cherished islands with great respect. It was the same stance I took in hosting our foundation’s charity events, always praising the contributions of our patrons, volunteers, and beneficiaries, always acknowledging their generosity.

SEEING THE WORLD WITH EMPATHY
Travel brought new dimensions. “In Tahiti, I photographed Mareva Georges — Miss Tahiti and Miss France. Beloved throughout the islands, mesmerized crowds would chant her name outside the hotel.” Rick was most inspired by her empathy. ”What struck me was, of course, her glamour, but even more, her kindness. She remembered everyone’s name and their concerns, even years later. It reminded me that real grace is never about attention; it’s about connection.” The moment revealed why Mareva was so beloved: not just as a beauty queen but as a symbol of caring and kindness throughout Tahiti.

As our guide took us on a tour of his “neighborhood,” the world’s richest rainforest, he would often stop at different trees, roots, leaves, and mushroom-like growths. “Teas from this bark cures headaches. This cures earaches. This foliage treats fungal infections. This clears eczema.” Incredibly, though only five percent of the rainforests has been researched, 25 percent of all our prescription drugs are derived from tropical plants.

On another photo shooting deep in the Amazon Jungle, he saw another kind of beauty. “At night, the jungle’s animals created a roaring clamor of predators and prey — and then you realize how fragile it all is. Over a third of the rainforest is gone. You can’t witness that and not feel responsible.”

His photography and articles chronicling the Amazon and similar environmental photo trips, culminated in a United Nations solo exhibition and an Award of Excellence from the U.N. Society of Writers. “When I saw my photographs at the U.N., it wasn’t pride I felt — it was gratitude. To have your work speak for the planet itself is humbling.”

“JFK would say courage is ‘Grace under pressure,’ and I got to practice that at almost every photo shooting, which often were hurried events. This cover shooting was no exception. But every cover has its joys, like when Laurence asked me to get a dozen copies of the issue to his next board meeting, or the time when our cover girl, Amanda, went to the movies to see  ‘27 Dresses,”’ with actress Kathryn Heigl. In one scene, the actress picks up a bridal magazine, the current issue of Manhattan Bride! ‘That’s Me! On the Cover! That’s Me!’ yelled out a surprised Amanda in the crowded movie theater. And there she was on our cover, 10-feet tall on the silver screen! Of course, the NYC crowd also started yelling too, cheering her on!” 

HIGH PRESSURE PHOTO SHOOTINGS — THE NYU COVER
When Rick was about to photograph billionaire Laurence Tisch, chairman  of NYU, with Jay Oliva, the university’s president, Laurence said, “I only have one minute for this shooting.” Just as Rick lifted his camera, the battery on his light-meter battery died. Within seconds, he replaced it and captured the cover shot. He had grown adept at working fast with his camera in the dark setting of Studio 54, where no celebrity wanted to pose for more than a few seconds. That ability to deliver under pressure and to catch the fleeting moods of his photo subjects — sharpened by his boxer’s split-second eye-hand coordination — became a hallmark of his photography sessions.

Asked to comment on my photography, I would oftern say, “I photograph what I feel,” and because I am always looking for the very best in my photo subjects, the photos often reveal a treasured personal side of the subject, like the cover shot for Gloria Steinem’s book, her #1 best seller for 13 weeks. 

AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHY and GLOBAL REACH
Rick’s photography has earned more than 50 national and international awards, including the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers for his environmental photography and articles. His photos have appeared on the covers of New York Times bestsellers and in fashion magazines across Europe, South America, and Asia, as well as in his solo exhibition at the United Nations.

His camera has captured fashion and culture — from Acapulco to Amazonia, Paris, Morocco, Maui, Rio, Bellagio, and more — and have featured top models, renowned dancers, and international beauty queens including Miss USA, Miss France, and Miss Russia. Along with the team assembled for each of his overseas photo shootings, their entire trips were sponsored by national tourist boards, major airlines, world-class resorts, and Eastman Kodak. “We greatly appreciated such support, and were happy to create each of our award-winning multi-page features to express our thanks.”

“It was the Fifth Anniversary of Manhattan magazine and I asked one of our advertisers if she could help us find a venue. Two weeks later, she said the French Ambassador wanted to host it at the French Embassy. But by then the  event was too large and we instead booked The Plaza. It was a glorious event, held under the patronage of the French Ambassador, as we honored Manhattan’s Women of Charity, featuring their portraits while wearing the gowns and jewelry of the city’s top French designers.”

SUPERMODELS, CHARITIES, and THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR
At Studio 54, Rick first photographed supermodel Cheryl Tiegs in the few seconds she gave him as she was leaving the club with her husband. Years later, after seeing his Manhattan magazine cover photo of fellow supermodel Carol Alt, Cheryl called and asked if he would photograph her for his next cover — which he did. After launching his Foundation and hosting annual Manhattan Awards benefit dinner-dances at The Plaza Hotel, both Cheryl and Carol served as co-hosts — dazzling the paparazzi.

Later, at another benefit at The Plaza Hotel, the event  featured his portraits of “Manhattan’s Women of Charity,” who were honored at the event, which was held under the Patronage of the French Ambassador.

Oscar and Four-Times Tony award-winner, Manhattan Awards Honoree, producer Marty Richards, with the children.

THE MANHATTAN MAGAZINE FOUNDATION and 40 CHARITY EVENTS
Rick formally established the Manhattan Magazine Foundation as a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, supporting the city’s homeless children and breast cancer research. Through the foundation, he hosted 40 events at The Plaza Hotel, The National Arts Club, and other venues — handling all the details every couple must do for their own wedding. His high-profile annual Manhattan Awards dinner-dances honored Grammy, Tony, and Oscar winners, billionaire philanthropists, Hall of Fame athletes, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, medical leaders, and cultural icons.

NYC Ballet Principal Dancers Kyra Nichols (left) and Valentina Kozlova (right) and (center) Principal Dancers Judith Fugate and Darci Kistler with Ivana Trump, a member of the Benefit Committee, at the Harry Winston event honoring the committee.

For another event, Rick was asked to create a benefit for a major French fashion designer’s new Manhattan salon, Rick photographed the renowned principal dancers of New York City Ballet in the designer’s gowns and hosted a cocktail party for the benefit’s celebrity committee at Harry Winston’s Fifth Avenue salon. His images were then exhibited in both Manhattan and Paris.

For yet another benefit at The Plaza, he welcomed 800 Guests in two ballrooms — again handling All The Details every couple must do for their own wedding, coordinating everything in the pre-email era. “These events were a bridge between beauty and purpose — art used to honor generosity.”

At our charity events … Top row: Laurence Tisch, Polly Bergen, CBS Founder and our first Manhattan Awards Honoree William S. Paley; National Urban League President, Honoree Hugh Price with the children. Middle row: Honoree Princess Yasmin Age Khan, president of Alzheimer’s Disease International, fellow Honoree Ralph Destino, chairman of Cartier; NYC principal dancer Valentina Kozlova and philanthropist artist LeRoy Neiman; Honoree Gloria Steinem; Bottom Row: Miss France Mareva Georges with the children; Donald and Ivana Trump; Models Heidi and MJ at one of our charity fashion shows; supermodel Cheryl Tiegs.

FROM GLAMOUR TO GIVING
Rick’s photography intertwined with philanthropy. After founding his charitable organization to help he city’s homeless children and support breast-cancer research, he hosted 40 events. “Those nights sharpened my sense of empathy and logistics in equal measure,” he says. “We did everything couples do for their own weddings — invitations, seating, choosing and working with venues and vendors, deciding on the music, menus, speeches, and more.

“For example, as we approached eachevent, I always Planned and Previously Distributed a Detailed Schedule — broken into 15-Minute Intervals — listing All Activities and including Special Instructions for the band and maître d’. It also confirmed which guests had Special Menus and outlined Key Moments throughout the evening, with notes on any Last-Minute Changes.”

Manhattan Bride covers through the years, with Evelyn dashing on the beach at our photo shooting in Antigua.

CELEBRATING LOVE and COMMITMENT with MANHATTAN BRIDE
By 2000, Rick had hosted 40 celebrity-studded charity events, each with its own pressures, deadlines, and treasured memories. Managing such large-scale celebrations taught him how to balance creative vision, select and coordinate with venues and vendors, and handle logistics while ensuring guests feel cared for — the same skills couples rely on for their wedding day. Those experience set the stage. “I was ready to launch Manhattan Bride.”