and partner in the store , Robert Valentine , and LaForge went on an overseas buying trip . While the Macy ’ s partners were in Europe for three months , Getchell was holding down the fort at home in New York . For the first time , she was tasked with leading the entire store .
“ There is not another woman in America who could do it ,” LaForge wrote in a letter about his wife ’ s leadership . But her time in charge lasted only a few months . It would be more than a decade later before another female would be appointed to the top executive role within a major establishment . 3
Gennette , Macy ’ s current CEO who is openly gay , said in 2019 that diversity and inclusion are core to the company ’ s success and that Getchell ’ s tenure as a female leader within the store is “ a legacy we are very proud of and [ a ] track record we intend to continue … With a customer base that is largely female , it is imperative to our business that our executive ranks reflect the communities we serve .”
Gennette announced in March that he will retire in February 2024 . He will be succeeded by Tony Spring . To this day , Macy ’ s has yet to have a female CEO . And the company is not alone . Although progress has been made within the retail industry , the vast majority of CEOs are still male .
Macy ’ s ranks 22nd on the National Retail Federation ’ s list of top retailers ranked by sales volume . On the list of Top 100 retailers , only 11 are led by women . There ’ s Roz Brewer at Walgreen ’ s , Barbara Rentler at Ross Stores , Mary Dillon at FootLocker , Karen Lynch at Costco , Corie Barry at Best Buy , Elizabeth Burr at Rite Aid , Lauren Hobart at Dick ’ s Sporting Goods , Colleen Wegman at Wegmans Food Market , Virginia Drosos at Signet Jewelers , Gina Boswell at Bath & Body Works and Joanne Crevoiserat at Tapestry .
That list might be shorter , were it not for the accomplishments of Margaret Getchell LaForge .
Final Resting Place
Getchell lived with rheumatoid arthritis for much of her adult life , so she was no stranger to pain . After Macy and LaForge passed away in 1877 and 1878 , respectively , her own health declined . She suffered immense nerve pain , as well as pain in her abdomen . In the latter part of 1879 , it became unbearable .
The LaForge plot at Woodlawn Cemetery , Bronx , New York .
On January 25 , 1880 , Getchell fell into a coma from which she would not awake . She passed away at home , with family by her side . She was laid to rest under a tall “ LaForge ” grave marker directly next to Abiel ’ s grave at Woodlawn Cemetery . 4 His gravestone is marked , “ Husband ,” while hers says , “ Mother .”
Visitors to Woodlawn will see that Getchell ’ s gravestone actually has a wrong number etched upon it . Instead of identifying her birthday as July 16 , 1841 , it incorrectly states she was born in 1842 .
One theory is that a family member chose to change the date so it looked like she was younger than her husband . Although Getchell was only a few months older than her spouse , it was a subject that made her terribly self-conscious , according to a letter written by her daughter . Or , it could have been a simple mistake .
Either way , it ’ s regrettable that a woman who dedicated her entire life to the accuracy of numbers has a tombstone with the incorrect birth year on it .
Stephanie Forshee , photographer www . MoAF . org | Summer 2023 | FINANCIAL HISTORY 37