Today is the 30th anniversary of Gloria's death. On April 1, 1983, the world lost a pioneer in pop culture journalism and a true innovator in the publishing world. Most significant to all of us, the readers of 16 Magazine lost a real friend, who never put money or personal recognition ahead of her mission to mentor us through our most vulnerable years.
Gloria, you created a family of readers who still share a strong bond. We will never forget how you encouraged us and gave us permission to dream while providing us with a place where those dreams could begin to come true. I am proud to be the archivist of your amazing life.
I asked some of the people that follow my Facebook tribute page to reminisce about their days as 16 readers.
My sincere thanks to all of you for your contributions.
~ Karen
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I remember getting my first 16 Magazine in Feb., 1967. I was in love with the Beatles and the Monkees, and I was gaining a serious crush on this amazing lead singer of a new group (for me) with this fabulous long pony tail . So, I was home sick from school, feeling lousy, and my precious mother gives me a paper bag and says, "This will make you feel better!" She was right!!!! A whole new world opened for me, a 10-year-old little rock 'n roller. From 1967 - 1972, I couldn't get enough of 16 Magazine, and I learned so much about what was going on in music at the time. I remember vividly getting the realization that this was all because of this woman named Gloria Stavers. I really love the name Gloria, and I was awed and inspsired by what she was doing. I remember when it dawned on me that she, in fact, was "GeeGee," the gal behind all of those fabulous costumes in the photos at "GeeGee's Gossip." That just thrilled me at the time. I loved reading her responses to the letters that other girls (and sometimes guys!) wrote her. She really was as much of the reason I loved 16 Mag as Mark Lindsay, Bobby Sherman, or the Monkees. I wanted to be like her: creative, and loving her work, music, and laughter. She was huge in my young life, and I always wanted to meet her to give her a big hug of thanks. I wish she were here today, and I'm so glad we have the opportunity to continue on with a bit of 16 Magazine fun and nostalgia through the internet.
-Donna Sanson Vaughn
My first experience with a Teen Magazine was 16, following the Brady Bunch and David Cassidy. I bought them every month for almost 10 years, cutting out articles, pin ups & entering contests. I loved the way Gloria supported David when he did Rolling Stone Magazine. I wish I'd had the chance to meet her.
-Cheri-lynn Corwin
When I worked for Gloria in the late 60's through the early 70's I didn't fully appreciate or understand who she really was and the impact she would have for decades to come. In retrospect I now realize how ahead of her time she was. She often came across as an abrasive and aggressive business woman who rattled a lot of nerves. But underneath that powerful and sometimes frightening facade was the gentle soul of a very insightful woman who loved her 16 Magazine readers unconditionally. She was determined to teach them to always be proud of who they were and to never give up when faced with obstacles or detours. I'd like to think she is beaming down on all of us with great pride and satisfaction knowing that her social media "family" has reconnected and is keeping their love for her and their memories of her alive.
-Mimi Gitterman Zizza Menendez
As a young teen (about 13 years old), I felt so connected to my faves through her! I used to think she was one of the luckiest people on the face of the earth--and she WAS! -Lesley Clack
Gloria Stavers is my heroine. If it wasn't for her, I would not be who I am today. And that may seem odd, since I was not privileged to share in the community she created and cultivated during her career. I came to know of Miss Stavers years after she left us - though her soul never has. I first learned of her when I was a teenager in the 1990s. I was fascinated by old teen magazines, but I was always drawn in most closely to 16. It had an intimacy, an understanding that the others never achieved, if they even tried. I noticed the name - Miss Gloria Stavers - as the editor. I realized I knew the name - from the liner notes of albums, from biographies of Jim Morrison - and came upon "Who's Your Fave Rave?" And I became even more fascinated... Though my collection of old 16 Magazines was small, they were my treasures. I learned about "new" artists, gained an understanding of an era and a culture that was fascinating to me. Simultaneously, I was in college and became a history major - mainly because of my passion for this era. As I neared the end of my undergrad days, I decided to pursue a graduate degree in the history of popular culture. Many professors told me "this isn't relevant," "that's not history," "you'll never be considered a REAL historian"... trivializing the very culture they came from. I wasn't deterred. Years later, after I earned my master's degree and slogged away in pointless jobs, I knew it was time for me to return to my passion. I began my PhD pursuit in 2004 - and returned to the welcoming community of 16 Magazine. My academic research since then has focused on 16 and Miss Stavers - the woman who was so integral to the emotional and intellectual development of generations of women - and who had herself been considered irrelevant in her profession, trivialized for her devotion to girls and their needs, yet nonetheless remained dedicated to what she knew was needed: providing a voice and a comfortable space for "her children." No academic research, prior to mine, had been done on 16 Magazine - it was considered insignificant, disposable, nostalgic, and trite. "Gloria Stavers" yielded no results when researched, so she couldn't be "historically important." Oh really? Tell that to the millions who read 16, were comforted by it, rejoiced in each month's new issue. Tell that to the musicians and actors who laud Miss Stavers for her journalistic integrity, dedication to excellence, and care for her audience. Tell that to the academics who now realize how outdated, outmoded, discriminatory, and misogynistic they were because they disregarded the material culture of girls' lives for so long. You see, though Miss Stavers may have left us decades ago, her soul never has. And I am seeing to it - with the loving assistance of my fellow Ravers - that her legacy never will."
-Diana Belscamper
From the time I was about 10 until the age of - you guessed it, 16 - I looked forward every month to Gloria's magazine every month. I would get some change from my Grandma and run up to our neighborhood candy store to buy my copy. I always loves the fanciful, colorful covers. And the posters!! Fang, Mark, Mickey, and Paul would adorn my room. I was always getting in trouble for putting holes in the walls with tacks. But it was worth it to be surronded by my first loves! Thanks, Gloria, wish you were still here to see we are still rockin!
-Nadja O'Dwyer
I think the first 16 Magazine I bought was probably sometime in late 1964 when I was a Freshman in High School, and I was instantly hooked! I would save nickels from my lunch money and constantly check the corner store the day the next edition was due to be out. All these years later I still have those copies around. They were a definite mood lifter for me and it's still fun to look through them once in a while. Thank you, Gloria for all the great memories and looking out for us and our interests back then! -Mary Michaux Gustwiller
I loved 16 magazine! Gloria really knew the hearts of 13 year old girls. When I first discovered 16 magazine Mark Lindsay was my favorite teen idol! I loved how she wrote the articles making the teen idols so personable and real. She was a top notch photographer also. Loved all those pages filled with pictures of Mark, and The Raiders!
-Margie Weidlich
God Bless You Gloria! You were The Real Fairy God Mother!! Granting Wishes, Making Dreams Come True and of course Speading Your Magic all around!!! You really knew us better then we knew ourselves! Thank You for being there for two little 4 & 5 year olds girls who loved looking at one's older brother's 16 Mags! You brought us so much Joy!!!! - Kathleen Kepner
When the Monkees TV show first came on I was very young. But after saving my allowance all month, I used to walk from our house to our small city's downtown just to buy a copy of 16 Magazine. My heart was all fluttery every step of the way, just dreaming of having this paper treasure in my hands. I'd not allow anyone else to read it. It was mine alone!
The only store that sold 16 Magazine, also sold record albums. Our tiny local Walgreens Drug Store. This was where I found my first record album ever. The Monkees, of course. I had a tiny, lavender record player and I tortured my family by playing the same few albums over and over again. I'd listen to my "TV pals" and devour my cherished magazine. Now, I'm simply amazed I was allowed to walk those ten blocks or so -- alone -- through some questionable neighborhoods. But it was a different time. A more innocent age where a young girl could buy wonderful life-changing music *and* a magic magazine filled with sparkly dreams of Davy and other heart-throbs. I *lived* for the day the new 16 Magazine appeared on the magazine rack, and I read and reread them until they literally fell apart. Wish I had them in hand now. Thank you, Gloria, for giving us our dreams! -Ginny Fleming
I discovered Herman's Hermits in 1966 - they were the first group I ever liked, and that's when I started reading 16 magazine.! Peter was soooooo cute and Gloria ALWAYS knew what us teenyboppers wanted to read about our faves. Even when Peter and Mireille got married and broke our hearts, at least we heard it from Gloria! It was so nice hearing years later that Peter had remained good friends w/her. Many thanks to Gloria! I will always be thankful that she portrayed teen idols in a positive light. - Jill Carroll
What I loved about Gloria... is the way she loved People in General not only the Stars....Her stories brought so many People together, through laughter - silly sadness - and yes admiration towards Our Love for the Icons we now still enjoy...Her dedication to all the fans of the 16 magazine, Making sure everyone was Satisfied with ones crush...she worked hard and effortless... For me, Collecting these Magazines over the years and re-collecting some that were lost, but found today, Getting them from Ebay etc, brings so much joy to me, re-reading Gloria's words and Stories makes her still here with me today, I truly Miss her, although she's in my Heart always....It is never to old to keep Admiring what she has left behind for us....Love to Gloria now and forever ! -Eileen Lackey Rodriguez
I live in a fairly small town an hour from Pittsburgh, Pa. and have loved the Cowsills since 1967. John is still my absolute favorite! My friend Terry and I would walk downtown from her house every Saturday, rain or shine, and walk through the stores, especially a small store that sold only magazines and newspapers. We would buy every magazine that John and Barry ( her fav) were in...and we bought LOTS of 16 magazines!!! My bedroom wall was covered with "Cowsill wallpaper" ( the posters and pictures)! We were the first to buy a lot of the issues, and would wait for them to be unwrapped...so many memories of that carefree time and the hours spent "dreaming" of dating John and Barry!!! I only wish I still had those magazines....we do follow John with the Beach Boys, and have met him twice. I even have a set of drumsticks that he gave us....Terry gave me hers so I would have both. So in a way, my dream of meeting him that started so long ago reading 16 Magazine came true in 2009...42 years later!!! Thank You, Gloria! -Nina Hawk Springer
I used to go to my friend Cindy's house after school. Her older sister Kathy subscribed to 16 Magazine. If we were good, not too annoying and promised not to crinkle the pages, she would let us look over the latest copy. I remember trying to take in as much as I could before we had to give it back. I just loved the stories and the pictures. The first issue I decided that I HAD to have for myself was an issue that featured a house of Nez's. I remember it had a cool swimming pool and living in Maine, it was quite exotic to me. I worked Mom over pretty good to get her to give me a quarter so I could buy my own copy. I was about 8 at the time. The other thing I remember was when I went to buy 16 Magazine, the man who owned the grocery store would tease me. He told me I couldn't buy it because I wasn't 16. The first time, I believed him for a few seconds. But I would smile and head to the register with my treasured 16 Magazine and he would just chuckle. I loved the columns and the little tidbits that would be in them. And then of course the pictures. I got in trouble when I ran out of wall space and started putting pictures on the ceiling. I didn't think it was a problem but Dad said that was a bit much and a fire hazard to boot. I guess in hindsight he might have been right. I've been lucky and have been able to see and meet a lot of the people I used to read about in 16 Magazine but I would have loved to have met Gloria. She was such an influence and I would loved to have said thank you to her in person.
-Kim Conner
To think that Gloria has been gone for 30 years seems impossible. When I started reading 16 I was only 11 or 12 years old. I would take my quarter to the drugstore praying the new issue would be on the magazine stand. I only realized years later how 16 was such a formative part of my young years. Probably THE major influence! I am sure she is looking down on us smiling as we remember her and thank her everyday of our lives! Dreamsville lives! Thank you Gloria from the bottom of my "16" heart! -Laura Bade Limbach
Whenever I think of Gloria Stavers the following song lyric plays in my head and heart:
Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone,
But in my mind,
I know they will still live on and on,
But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn't easy, but I'll try,
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters,
That would soar a thousand feet high,
To Miss Stavers, with Love
- Donna Stamatin (aka Donna Remysmom)
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