Rena Wolner, American publisher, Died at 70

Rena Wolner was born on February 22, 1945, in Boston and died on November 5, 2015 due to lung cancer.

She was an American publisher of Pocket Books, Avon Books, Berkley Books.

Rena was the president and publisher of three major mass market paperback publishing houses.

She graduated from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut in 1967.

In the mid 80’s Rena was the top executive at Berkley Books, Pocket Books and Avon Books

In 1968 Rena started working as an assistant in the contracts department at Bantam Books.

Rena was then promoted to associate publisher at Bantam, and worked under the management of Bantam publisher Oscar Dystel.

She was named VP publisher of Berkley Publishing in 1978, and then president in 1984.

Rena Wolner collaborated with Phyllis Grann, editor-in-chief of Berkley.

Rena was named president of Pocket Books in 1985.

After which she was named president at Avon Books.

Thereafter, Rena worked as a consultant with Putnam Berkley CEO Phyllis Grann, until she retired in 1994.

Rena Wolner passed away at age 70 in Boca Raton, due to lung cancer.