Warren B. Syer, 84
GREAT BARRINGTON - Warren B. Syer, 84, died Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, at Great Barrington Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, after suffering for several years with Alzheimer's disease. He had been the publisher of High Fidelity magazine for many years. Born in Somerville on March 9, 1923, son of Charles and Mabel Stevens Syer, he grew up in the Boston area and attended Northeastern University before joining the Army Air Forces in November of 1943. Under the Army's college program, he attended the University of Kentucky and Antioch College for a short time before he was stationed at Truax n the same field as his passion: opera and classical music..jpg)
In 1952, he subscribed to a new magazine, High Fidelity, which had only been published for about a year in Great Barrington. He drove 60 miles to the magazine's offices and interviewed with Publisher Charles Fowler and owner Milton Sleeper, and was hired as the promotion manager. The publication had just moved its offices from Main Street to the Adams house on State Road. The age of electronic equipment, allowing the improved reproduction of recorded music, had became a phenomenon of its own, which was known as high fidelity, or hi-fi. Magazine readers wanted information about equipment such as tweeters, woofers, turntables, and phonograph needles. They also wanted to know which symphony orchestra or musical artist had recorded Bach, Beethoven, Wagner and other composers.
Sales of the magazine soared. In fact, the success of the magazine published by this small company at the "Publishing House," as it was called locally, caught the attention of a New York firm, Billboard Publications Inc. Specializing in entertainment-related publications, Billboard was looking for a magazine to fill the void created by the decreasing popularity of vaudeville and circus events. In 1957, Billboard bought High Fidelity. However, Mr. Syer refused to move the Great Barrington office. While some employees occasionally had to travel to the city, they were usually happy for an all-expense paid trip to the Big Apple, with an occasional Broadway show included.
As vice president of consumer publications for Billboard, in addition to High Fidelity, Mr. Syer was publisher of American Artist, Modern Photography, and Schwann Long Play Record Catalog. He also served as the Far East liaison manager for two offices in Tokyo.
In 1972, he founded High Fidelity Cable Television, a multichannel cable system for Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lenox and Lee. He was very anxious to have this service for his own home, but it turned out to be a great success since many people wanted the ability to view multiple television channels.
The same year, ABC created a new division, called ABC Leisure Magazines, and purchased all the magazines from Billboard's Consumer Publications. They hired Mr. Syer as president of this division, which included Musical America, Stereo International, and McCall’s Needlework and Crafts, in addition to the former Billboard magazines.
In 1980, there came what he considered the opportunity of his lifetime. He accepted the position as CEO and
president of Historical Times Inc. in Harrisburg, Pa. Its publications included American History Illustrated, Civil War Times, British Heritage, Country Journal, Early American Life, Opus and Fly Fisherman. He was given complete control of the company in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. Thanks to his knowledge and publishing experience, the company recovered and became profitable. In 1988, Historical Times was sold to Cowles Publishing Inc.
High Fidelity ceased publication after it was purchased by a competitor in 1989.
During his years in publishing, Mr. Syer was a board member of Magazine Publishers Association, founder of its internship program and chairman for several terms of its Education and Management committees. Between 1989 and 2000, he was a publishing consultant for the Woodrow Wilson Quarterly at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Syer was a 55-year member of First Congregational Church and was chairman of its Investment Committee from 1990 until 2005. He served on the boards of Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. He also was instrumental in setting up the Four Town Cable Committee. He was a member of the Great Barrington Housing Authority for 12 years and a financial adviser for Elder Services Inc. of Berkshire County.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, Barbara A. Syer; his son, Kurt W. Syer, Sheffield; three daughters, Deborah A. Syer of Mount Laurel, N.J., Diane B. Brooks and her husband, Stuart Brooks, of Southington, Conn., and Cassandra G. Mazzawy and her husband, Toufie Mazzawy, of Shokan, N.Y., and seven grandchildren, Kelly Syer Harris and her husband Greg, Kristen Syer, Kara Syer, Rachel and Andrew Brooks, and Toufie and Amira Mazzawy.
He was predeceased by his brother, Henry W. Syer, in 1989.
FUNERAL NOTICE - Funeral services for Warren B. Syer will be conducted on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 251 Main St., Great Barrington, by the Rev. Charles VanAusdall, pastor. Burial will follow at Mahaiwe Cemetery in Great Barrington.
The family will receive friends on Friday evening, Dec. 7, from 4 until 7 at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the First Congregational Church Organ Fund or to the Alzheimer's Association through funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.