"The Alphabet Is Not Enough" - Thomas Wildberger's Obituary of Daniel Comte

A like Anatole, B like Basile, C like Caroline, D like Daniel, E like Etienne, F like Filou. To found a whole family after the order in the ABC, probably only you could think of. I would like to follow up with G How great. You were not only over 1 meter 90 tall, but also a great person: approachable and without airs and graces. That you had your H how you turned your hobby into a profession was a wise decision. Photography became your true vocation and you became an even better photographer than advertiser. The exhibition "Stolen Moments", which Anatole and your best friend Heike organized for you in Zurich, meanwhile captures something for you and something universal in book form: "What counts is the moment." I how inspiring was your view of things, how you understood advertising. In that respect, you took a lot from your former employer Weber, Hodel, Schmid, which was the best agency in Switzerland at the time. We then worked together at Matter Leo Burnett, and when J As Jung von Matt reported to me, you selflessly encouraged me to go to Germany. Of course, you told me one or two stories from your life, like the story about the K like toilet brush, which occurred when you were once on a business trip. Your wife, alone at night with the three sleeping children, was surprised by unusual noises in the toilet. She grabbed the nearest "weapon", namely the toilet brush, and hid behind the door, ready to defend her family. When the door opened, she yanked up the misappropriated object, regardless of the dripping mess. Which was forgotten the second it turned out it wasn't a burglar after all, but you. Yes, L how one could laugh with you. One has not only heard your laughter from afar, but literally felt it. Even during my last visit with you, it was nice to see that this very laughter had not been lost. That brings me to M like McDonald's, the client we enjoyed enormously. We generated the headline for the opening of a McDonald's branch in Interlaken: "All are welcome, no matter from which shore." Well, too progressive at the time, you've always been ahead of your time. N like notes, you always made with your noble fountain pen and wrote everything in capitals. Even today, when I make a note of something special, I use the capital letters. O how Oh, how nice that is... That battle chant was about the only thing you knew about soccer. Other than that, I'm afraid you were completely clueless on the subject. What I forgive you. But you had all the more idea about your job, what you numerous P like prizes from ADC, which meant a lot to you. What was later put into perspective. You were a sure value for awards, for which Q how your quality has contributed. Your work was always high quality, whether as a graphic designer, AD, CD or photographer. You also emphasized class when it came to fashion. I remember that you R like Romeo Gigli and I was impressed by your stylish appearance. Of course you were proud of your S like sons. They were born when I was your junior. Even to me greenhorn, you often talked to T like tips given shooting help. You shared your experience with me, who still had no plan of life, so for example also did not know how and where to go on vacation. The hotel Les Bouis between St. Tropez and Ramatuelle is one of the insider tips. And also the U like watch I wear to this day - a Speedmaster - was a recommendation from you. You owned a Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox and explained to me that a watch is a man's most important jewelry. That's why everyone should think carefully about what he puts on his wrist, because it says a lot about him. V like trust. As a boss, you gave me the feeling that I could become something and gave me the space and time to develop. We had important projects. For one of them we went all the way to W like Vienna. There we did everything you can do in Vienna. Even worked for an hour. Was enough. The campaign won silver. On my onward professional journey to Germany, I had X like x-thousands of puns in your luggage, because almost no day went by when you didn't think up one or the other. Probably this penchant stems from the fact that one of your ID cards did not say graphic artist under your job title, but Garfiker by mistake. I was severely damaged by this and perfected these verbal shenanigans far from home. Y like yes. I hardly know a person who was more life-affirming than you. Not once did I see you in a bad mood, at least you were always cheerful. Z as Zurich was your professional center, but Bern remained - not only in your heart - your home. Three hours there and back every day didn't matter to you, the main thing was to be with your loved ones in the evening. Now you have started your last journey.

The alphabet is not enough to describe who you were, all you did for us and how much we will miss you.

In September 2022

Thomas Wildberger, President ADC Switzerland