Say 30 to…
Herbert Elias Kaplow, 86, a Northwestern University graduate, who covered national news for NBC and ABC that included being chief White House correspondent with many history making assignments.
Reed Griffin , 73, a reporter for the City News Bureau of Chicago and philosophy teacher, patriot, soldier, historian and state legislator. He is quoted in the Sun-Times as saying “Charity is about time, talent and treasure. If people don’t have treasure, they can give of their time and talent.”
Bob Doherty, Chicago Tribune reporter.
Russell Tornabene, former NBC news executive with an emphasis in Washington where he is credited with the first live television news event, a fire in Washington D.C. He also was executive director of the Society of Professional Journalists when headquartered in Chicago. He rarely talked about his achievements but it was obvious he was a respected newsman and friend to journalists.
Bob Kotalik, 87, with the Chicago Sun and Chicago Sun-Times for 47 years becoming chief photographer who seemed to sense what was news and where it would be. He was said to be fearless in taking on dangerous assignments, 85, who wanted only to be known as a priest and “a loud mouth Irish priest.” But he also was a syndicated newspaper columnist, author of his goal of two books a year, a champion of the needy, at times a critic of the church and often rejected because of arguing for what he believed had to be done.
Two French journalists, Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont were abducted and murdered after interviewing a member of the NMLA separatist group in northern Mali.
Andrew Greeley, 87, who wanted to be known as both a priest and “a loud-mouth Irish priest.” He was also a syndicated newspaper columnist, author of at least two books a year, champion of the needy and at times critic of the church, frequently rejected for arguing what he believed had to be done.
Jim Kloss, Daily News, who covered the exciting 1968 Democratic convention, the trials of the “Chicago 7” and later became editor of SRI Institute in Menlo Park, California, according to the Daily News newsletter. An avid golfer, he also worked with the Professional Golf Association.
Alma Lach, 99, Sun-Times food editor who, according to the newspaper and others, was “an influential cookbook author, restaurant consultant, TV host” who did not choose to promote herself but made her reputation with quiet devotion to work and recipes simpler than the well-known Julia Childs. One of her cookbooks was the first one published by the University of Chicago Press that was not of an academic nature and quickly sold 25,000 copies compared to previous academic best sellers of 1,000. Rich Melman, founder of Lettuce Entertain You, hired her as a consultant to the reopening of the Pump Room introducing recipes new to him. He said “I think she could have been” a food star, “but I don’t think that was important to her. She also pioneered food shows on television.
The highly respected Waste and Recycling magazine told readers of its end this way: “Goodbye. Farewell. Until we meet again. Sorry. Those words won’t do.”
An Onion newspaper official announced that it will go digital.
Bill Burk, vice president of public relations for the Santa Fe Railway who also was president of the Chicago and Kansas City press clubs and was known nationwide for his skill in working with the top journalists in the United States and their management. He annually held parties at the Society of Professional Journalists conventions where SPJ member pianists played and sang Irish music into the early morning hours. He also gave a personal gift to your editor when he was in public relations, knowing of Friedlander’s knowledge of the history of the American West, telling him someday he will realize its value—now worth many thousands of dollars.
Hugh Hill, 89, old time reporter with an emphasis on politics for WBKB, now WLS-TV, said by colleague Janet Davies to be “larger than life: and by Jim Mathie, according to the Tribune, talking about politicians that “they love him and they feared him because he was very tough.” He began his work in Chicago as a news writer for WBBM-AM and later as a reporter for WBBM-TV. He enjoyed playing golf and cheered for the St. Louis Cardinals.
The American Medical News with a staff of 20 people, mostly journalists based in Chicago with a circulation of 208,000. Loss of advertising is blamed. Owned by the American Medical Association, its recent annual publishing division had revenue of $55.8 million in 2012 compared with $65.2 million the previous year. Other AMA publications are not affected.
Cary Marilyn Silver, 54, reporter and editor for 23 years as she traveled around the world for Rotary magazine published by Rotary International.
Myron Weigle, 96, former assistant city editor at the Chicago American, Chicago’s American and Chicago Today. After his newspaper career, he worked in the Cook County coroner’s office. He was a long time director of the Chicago Press Veterans Association and member of the Chicago Journalists Association, Chicago Press Club and the Chicago Police Reporter’s Association. His wife, Charlotte, preceded him in death. She was an English teacher at Hyde Park High School with Myron frequently telling your newsletter editor she did one of her few bad jobs of teaching when I was her student.