Russ Kane dies

Russ Kane, former city editor, copy editor, promotions director, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in the VA hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. His daughter Barbara was at his side, holding his hand when he died at 3:30 p.m., according to his son Rob. Russ had had a stroke in late November.

Here's the link to the obit by Tom Feran:

www.cleveland.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2009/12/russell_kane_former_plain_deal.html

Still more to learn at 90

Jean Elsner, the wife of the late editorial writer Sid Elsner, got a nice front page story on Wed, Dec. 12, about her still taking classes at CSU at age 90:

"Jean Elsner , 90, of South Euclid, is a life-long bookworm and has been taking classes at Clev for the last 27 years. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, CSU will present her with a special medal during the graduation ceremony. Elsner graduated the first time in 1941 from Ohio University. Elsner, who has never driven a car, still takes the bus to her classes. "

For the rest of the story:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/12/at_90_cleveland_state_universi.html

Harry West revisited

Pat and Ralph Gessler had breakfast with Harry West at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas in September. West, a former features editor, isn't golfing anymore but loves keno, says Pat, a former news editor/systems guru. Ralph, a former printer, is still working in circulation.

Russ Kane has stroke

Russ Kane, who had a stroke Nov. 25, is in Palo Alto, Calif. VA hospital . He's in building 100, ward 4A, the hospice unit. Russ was a city editor and Sunday Magazine editor, among other positions.

His son Rob Adams-Kane, a former PD copyaide, says "he's surrounded by grandkids and others and getting as many visitors as he can stand. From time to time he throws them all out, via minute but unmistakable gestures. He's very weak. Russell has chosen to not receive significant nutrition or hydration since his move to the VA.

The address is 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto CA, 94304.

Rob says Russell is "greatly enjoying the stories in John Tidyman's new book, Gimme Rewrite Sweetheart, which we're reading aloud for him. "

Alumni invited to Book Sale

The Plain Dealer Holiday Book Sale is on deck for Thursday, Dec. 3 from 3-5:30 p.m. in the second floor community room. Security Guards have been alerted to admit former Plain Dealer employees.

Prices haven't risen: $3 hardcover; $2 paperback, $2 CDs, $10 coffee table books, $8 and $5 audiobooks. Also music CDs and ample kids books. Limit of these to 10 per customer per day.

Half - price day is Friday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon.

See you there.

Tales of Snyderman

 Seems that there are a few domestic tales about the late Bob Snyder, aka Snyderman, in the book just out by his widow Pat Snyder, "The Dog Ate My Planner: Tales and Tips from an Overbooked Life."

 

    The book features Bob as Gadget Man, obsessed with electronic devices, and shares other well-kept secrets such as his obsession with flossing, his ploys to beat the American health care system, and his personal filing (or not) system.   

 

    You can read more by going to the book's web page, http://www.TheDogAteMyPlanner.com, or Pat's web page, http://www.PatSnyderOnline.com. 

 

 

 

Friday, Oct. 30 Luncheon Date

PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates

Casual unstructured lunch troupe

Gather for lunch on the last Friday of January, April, July and October

Spouses and guests always welcome

 

NEXT  LUNCHEON: Noon, Friday, October 30

 

PLACE: Stancato’s, 7380 State Road (Ohio 94), Parma,

 Strip mall near intersection with West Pleasant Valley Road

From I-480 take State Road south

From I-77, Ohio 82 (Wallings Road), west to State Road, then north

From I-71, Ohio 82 east to State Road, then north

 

COST: Buffet $6.95, plus beverage, dessert (optional), and tip

 

RSVP by Friday, October 23

Janet Beighle French (216) 221-2318, or jabfr519@sbcglobal.net or

JoAnn Pallant (440) 734-1923, or japallant@sbcglobal.net

 

Future gatherings: January 29, April 30, and July 30

Miller's memorial

Bill Miller's memorial Friday, Oct. 2, 2009  at the Ohio theatre was quite a party. Here's a link to photos and tributes:

http://www.clevelandpeople.com/other/william-miller.htm

Cy Wainscott, managing editor/production

By Judy Wainscott

 Cy Wainscott, 74, who died September 27th at home in Gambier, was literally raised in movie theaters in north central Illinois (Rantoul 
 and Champaign-Urbana), where his parents managed theaters.

 He and his 
 brother, Marc, would report to work there after school.

 One of Cy’s  special jobs, he recently told his wife, Judy, was making popcorn in the  theater basement, bagging it with lots of salt and butter, then taking it up to the candy stand. When he or Marc tired of the feature movie, 
 they would nap on cots in the projection room, entertaining one another 
 by acting out favorite scenes until they fell asleep.

 

Cy never lost his 
 love for popcorn—his comfort food—or for the movies of the 30’s and 
 40’s. As he realized he was dying from cancer, he cheered himself by 
watching dozens of old movies on DVD.

 
 His early career goal was the Lutheran ministry and he prepared at 
Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. During his senior year, he worked on 
 the college newspaper and decided he would make a better newsman than  preacher. He never regretted that decision.

 

His first job after graduating in 1957 was as a reporter for the Ashland (OH) Times-Gazette. He was soon managing editor, the youngest in the state at that time.

 In  1962, he joined The Plain Dealer as a copy editor and was eventually a 
 Managing Editor, responsible for overseeing the production of the 
newspaper. He was a member of Unit One, the American Newspaper Guild, and of the journalism fraternity, Sigma Delta Chi, and past president of 
 the Press Club of Cleveland.

During the 1980s, for five years, he was publicity director of Kansas 
 State University in Manhattan, KS. He left to join a division of 
 Eastman-Kodak in Boston that made computer systems for newspapers. He saw the world on that job, consulting with newspapers in New Zealand, 
 Poland, Sweden, Scotland and England, including the Times of London.
 
 In 1991, Cy and Judy returned to a home they’d purchased in Gambier, her 
hometown, where he joined the Kenyon (College) Review as Managing 
 Editor. He also served as advisor to the student newspaper, The 
 Collegiate, and was selected all-campus advisor-of-the-year.

 He retired 
 in 1995 to pursue hobbies, including the King Arthur legend, model 
 trains, tropical fish and heraldry. He loved to design coats of arms and 
 was working on a set for the Board of Trustees of Kenyon when he died.     
  

During a trip to England in the 1960’s, he was so moved by a service at 
 Westminster Abbey he returned home an Episcopalian. He was an active 
 member of Harcourt Parish Episcopal Church in Gambier where a memorial 
 service will be held Saturday, October 24 at 11 am.

 Besides Cy’s widow, Judith McCluskey Wainscott, whom he married in 1965, 
he is survived by his mother, Frances McDaniel Wainscott Grantham, of 
Fairborn, OH. Other survivors include his brother Marc’s widow, also 
 Judy Wainscott, of Fairborn; his brother-in law Jon (Tony) McCluskey and 
 his wife, Bonnie, of Appleton, WI; a nephew, Charlie McCluskey, of 
 Oshkosh, WI; a neice, Paige McCluskey Richards of Milwaukee and her 
 husband, Erik, and their daughters, Sadie and Stella. Cy’s father, Cyril 
 Emmett Wainscott, died in 1958. Cy’s widow requests that memorial 
 donations be made to favorite charities.

For funeral home info and to leave condolences visit  http://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/\

Alana Baranack has an obit with lots of photos at http://obitsohio.com/2009/09/28/cy-wainscott-74-gambier/

The Plain Dealer's obit can be read at http://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2009/09/cy_wainscott_former_managing_e.html

Jane Moulton, food writer

JANE H. MOULTON, 83,  an assistant food editor and wine columnist  for the PD from  1967-1992,  died  Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 at South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights

 A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. at the Church In Aurora with Rev. Kevin Horak officiating. Mrs. Moulton will be buried in Aurora City Cemetery.  

The entire death notice is at www.greenfamilyfuneralhome. com. The obituary will be in the Plain Dealer on Tuesday, Sept. 29,2009.

Nancy Lee weds Marie Wilson

Nancy Ann Lee and Marie Collins Wilson were married Friday in Aquinnah, Mass. The Rev. Dr. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, an Episcopal priest, officiated at the Outermost Inn.
Ms. Lee (left) 56, is the editor and vice president for licensing of The New York Times Syndicate. She graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University.  She was a Plain Dealer copy editor and assistant photo editor in the 70s. 
She is the daughter of Joyce I. Lee of Fort Myers, Fla., and the late James E. Lee.
Ms. Wilson, 69, is the founder and president of the White House Project, a nonprofit organization in New York that promotes women’s leadership in business and government. She graduated from the University of Delaware and received a Master of Science in higher education from Drake University.
Until 2004, she was the president of the Ms. Foundation for Women in New York. She is a creator of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Her first marriage ended in divorce.
She is the daughter of Myrtle M. Collins of Atlanta and the late Henry A. Collins.

Help wanted: Copy editor

A new website, http://www.sportsink.com, covers high school sports in Medina and Summit counties. SportsInk is looking for a copy editor to wrangle stories into good shape and sniff out extra info as needed.

SportsInk is also offering the SportsInk software to writers who want to cover high school sports in areas outside of Medina and Summit counties. Find out more info at http://www.sports-reporting.net

William F. Miller Memorial Celebration

A tribute to the late William F. Miller, Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter and dear friend to Cleveland's vast ethnic community, is set for Friday October 2nd, 5:30pm, in the beautiful Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare, 1501 Euclid Ave, downtown Cleveland.
Because of William's efforts in helping save the historic and now thriving theaters, PlayhouseSquare has generously offered the Ohio Theatre for this celebration of his life.

Friends from Cleveland's ethnic, civic, media and arts communities will gather to salute Bill's 40-year career as one of Greater Cleveland's most accomplished, passionate and charismatic journalists.

William F. "Wolfgang" Miller: writer, photographer, polka singer, devoted friend, loving husband and father. An exciting guy who could energize a room!

Join us for a night of great stories, joyous memories, special guests, music and more.

Dick Russ, Managing Editor of WKYC-TV Channel 3, will emcee the tribute.

A cocktail reception will be held in the theater following the program. This celebration of Bill’s life and achievements are free and open to the public.


For more information, please contact:

Billy Miller (organizer)
212-598-4902
Email: Billyartnyc@yahoo.com

August Pust (organizer)
216-261-2690
Email: Gapust@aol.com

Jeannie Emser (PlayhouseSquare)
216-348-5271
Email: emserj@playhousesquare.org

Job tip from Mark Puente

The sheriff's office is looking for a PIO. The deadline is 8/26/09 to apply. Any journalist or former journalist would get hired. That is what the sheriff is looking for. The starting pay is only about $19 an hour but would be good for someone who retired or took the buyout. It includes government benefits. I saw the posting on a bulletin board. The number is 216-443-6000.

The drawback is that person would have to deal with my 10 calls a day.

-- Mark

Press Club names latest Hall of Famers

PD columnist Regina Brett, retired photographer Bill Wynn, editorial page editor Betsy Sullivan and former Plain Dealer reporter Walt Bogdanich will be among the group to be inducted in the Press Club of Cleveland's Hall of Fame in October. (Sullivan and Bogdanich were chosen last year but were unable to attend the induction ceremony. ) Joining them will be three WKYC staffers: sports director Jim Donovan, managing editor Dick Russ and Paul Sciria, a former WKYC reporter and a pioneer in the ethnic press. For the full story follow the link:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/regina_brett_jim_donovan_5_oth.html

Snuffy Berkov, Walt's widow, dies

Here's a link to the death notice: http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=janet-berkov-snuffy&pid=131077030

Walt was a wire editor and book editor. He died in 2006 in Ocean Pines, Md.

A remembrance of Bill Miller

Bill Lucey, a former copy aide and library clerk, has a remembrance of Bill Miller on his blog: http://www.billlucey.com/

Walt Berkov's widow dies

Snuffy Berkov, the late Walt Berkov's wife, died in Ocean Pines, MD. Here's a link to the death notice.http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=janet-berkov-snuffy&pid=131077030

William F. Miller dies

Below is the obituary on cleveland.com. Alana Baranick has also posted an obit on her website, www.obitsohio.com. She is seeking a photo of Bill, so if any alumni have one, please contact her.


By Grant Segall and Mike O'Malley/Plain Dealer Reporters
Tuesday August 04, 2009, 11:17 AM

MENTOR — The big, boisterous William F. Miller rescued fire victims, dressed down election officials for slow returns, won leading awards from journalism groups and foreign governments, sang on a single with Frankie Yankovic's band, crusaded against newsroom smoking, helped strikers around the country and befriended all of Cleveland's many ethnic communities.
Miller, 73, died Monday at LakeEast Hospital, two weeks after a massive stroke.
He worked at The Plain Dealer from 1959 to 2001, covering labor, poverty and ethnic groups. He also emceed ethnic festivals and burst into song.
In various accents, strangers often told his colleagues, "You know Bill Miller? Bill Miller my friend."
Alex Machaskee, former Plain Dealer publisher, said, "He will most certainly be missed and always revered as our ambassador to our international communities."
Dennis Kucinich, a PD copy boy turned congressman, once said of Miller, "He has communicated the incredible beauty of our cultural mosaic in a way that has been both moving and entertaining."
Miller won top statewide awards for articles and took photographs on the side that were displayed in Willoughby, Slovenia, Croatia and Yugoslavia. He traveled widely, often as the guest of foreign governments, and learned snippets of dozens of languages.
He once found a Cleveland boarding house on fire and dragged out elderly residents, helping the fire department rescue the 21 occupants without injuries.
His name is inscribed at PlayhouseSquare for helping to save its historic theaters.
Miller was born in New Kensington, Pa., and learned to shoot and develop film at age 9 from his photographer father. He delivered the local Daily Dispatch and joined its staff at age 15.
He later got a bachelor's degree in English from Kent State University and a master's in journalism from Northwestern University. He also produced films for the Army in Japan.
Miller belonged to the international Newspaper Guild for 50 years. He took two years' leave from The Plain Dealer to work as a guild representative around the country.
He met his wife, the former Marianne Spaethling of Germany, when both were visiting relatives in New Kensington. The couple lived in Mentor.
He loved to tell tales and give advice, often starting with "My good man" or "Listen, my friend." He once grimaced at the hat of a brand-new colleague and told him where to buy a better one.
Miller's survivors include his wife and their two sons, Mark, a television reporter in Seattle, and Billy, a painter in Manhattan, N.Y.
The family plans to schedule a memorial in late September.
Miller retired partly to spend more time with his ailing brother, Pete, an Emmy-winning local television cameraman. Pete died the next day.
In his final Plain Dealer column, Miller wrote "It's best to leave the polka party before the janitor starts sweeping up."

July luncheon ahead at Nighttown

PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates

Gather for lunch on the last Fridays of January, April, July and October
Spouses and guests always welcome

NEXT LUNCHEON: Noon, Friday, July 31

PLACE: Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights
(top of Cedar Hill)

COST: $20.50 includes soup, salad, non-alcoholic beverages, tax & tip

CHOICES: Roasted Duck Breast Salad (baby greens, shallots, walnuts)
Dublin Lawyer (lobster and mushrooms in whiskey sauce)
Chevre Chicken (stuffed with cheese, shallots, walnuts)
Grilled Vegetable Plate

RSVP by July 24:
JoAnn Pallant (440) 734-1923, or japallant@sbcglobal.net


Grant Segall, PD obit writer, has asked for names, e-mails, & phones of former employees. The Abbeys will send your information unless you tell them otherwise.

Farewell to a friend

By Mike Peticca, Plain Dealer Reporter

Saturday June 13, 2009, 5:39 PM

Bill Nichols, who broke the story for The Plain Dealer in early 1970 that Cleveland would be awarded an NBA franchise, died early Saturday morning of a heart attack suffered at his home in Rocky River.
Nichols, 79, had battled a heart condition for several years, but remained active and was near completion of writing a book about Canterbury Country Club. He attended Lakewood High School, served in the U.S. Navy for four years and covered the Cavaliers for The Plain Dealer during their first 11 years.
During his 30-year career at The Plain Dealer, Nichols was also a beat writer for Cleveland State basketball and local small-college sports, besides working a range of other assignments. He was appreciated by peers and those he covered for his warmth and sincerity, besides his determined professionalism.

Former Plain Dealer Indians' and Browns' beat writer Russell Schneider, 81, sometimes met with Nichols and another former Plain Dealer sports reporter, Dick Zunt, for breakfast after they all retired.
"I knew Bill as a friend, and had great respect for him as a journalist," Schneider said. "He was always a good guy. He did a good job with the Cavs. Obviously, he was a good journalist, or he wouldn't have been teaching journalism."
Nichols taught college classes on sportswriting and public relations for more than 20 years, including stints at Baldwin-Wallace, John Carroll, Cuyahoga Community College and Hiram, before retiring several years ago. He was the 2004 recipient of the Jake Wade Award, presented annually to an individual in the media for contributions to the advancement of inter-collegiate athletics. Other winners of the award from the College Sports Information Directors of America include Keith Jackson, Dick Enberg and Billy Packer.
In 1980, Nichols received an "Excellence in Journalism" award from the Cleveland Press Club.
"Bill was a fantastic person. He loved students, loved teaching students and the inter-action with them," Baldwin-Wallace sports information director Kevin Ruple said. "And, all that was secondary to family."
Nichols graduated in 1947 from Lakewood High, where he played baseball for three years. He married schoolmate Jean (Havens) Nichols in 1957. Between his service in the Navy and his hiring by The Plain Dealer, Nichols worked for eight years at American Greetings. Following his retirement from The Plain Dealer, he was an official scorer at Indians' games for several years.
A longtime friend of Nichols' was Merle Levin, who worked 38 years as the sports information director at Cleveland State and its forerunner, Fenn College, and died on Wednesday night at age 81.
Nichols is survived by his wife, Jean, son, Wade, daughter, Lee Anne Chambers (John) and grandson, Andrew. Visitation will be Tuesday, 4-8 p.m., at Zeis-McGreevy Funeral Home, 16105 Detroit Ave., in Lakewood. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Howe, Ind., on a date to be announced. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association.

Also: Terry Pluto remembers Bill -- http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2009/06/to_both_friends_and_his_story.html

A Hall of Fame Reunion

By Stuart Warner


Angst over the future of the business. Concern for our younger colleagues. Yet belief that their technical wizardry will produce an economic model that will allow them to earn a living practicing the craft that we loved. All words spoken at the third Annual Press Club of Cleveland Hall of Fame Reunion & After-Work Party on May 18 at Nighttown where the skills and virtues represented by our Hall of Famers were represented, discussed and debated, including the hope that the journalism values they stood for will not be lost in an industry that is spinning upside down.

At least a dozen HOF members were on hand. TV-8's Danny Coghlan, the last to arrive, of course, making a boisterous entrance.

Hall of Famer Cynthia Dettelbach was making her final appearance as editor of The Cleveland Jewish News, her retirement effective by the time you read this.

Former PD reporters Tom Andrzejewski, Don Bean, Bob Dolgan and Dick Zunt were on hand along with Fred McGunagle and Betty Klaric of the Press and legendary editors like Arnold Miller, Mike Roberts and Rich Osborne, who has crossed over to the publishing side. And how do you categorize Ned Whelan, former print and TV reporter turned author and public relations guru? That why he's in the HOF.

Photos of the event can be viewed online at http://tinyurl.com/qxbjln.

Two finalists for the Class of 2009 were also there -- two-time Pulitzer finalist columnist Regina Brett of the PD and author and former PD photographer Bill Wynne, who was recently inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

Bruce Hennes of Hennes Communications, chairman of the event, welcomed the Hall of Famers as did club president Ed Byers and vice president/programming Bonnie Godbey. Ron Syroid, president of the Press Club of Akron, acknowledged the new reciprocal arrangement between the two clubs, allowing members to attend each other's events at membership rates.

After that, the honored guests and friends did what journalists do so well – enjoying the drinks and free food supplied by Nighttown, home of the Press Club of Cleveland.

###


Editor’s Note A new crop of Hall of Famers will be inducted this coming October. Members of The Press Club of Cleveland will receive their 2009 HOF ballots in June.

PD friends say good bye to Bob Snyder

Some ex Plain Dealer colleagues met in Worthington, Oh May 13, 2009, for the funeral of their friend, Bob Snyder, who died Sat, May 9.
Botton,left, Margie Frazer, Christine Jindra Conway, Chris Pett-Ridge, Kathy Burke Williams, Ron Rollins, top left, Rosemary Kovacs, Jack Murphy, Richard Conway,
Chris is at the Post-Gazette, Jack heads the press association in Maryland, Kathy Burke Williams was editor of the paper in Hattiesburg, Miss. The rest are in Cleveland, retired, except for Christine who works part-time at Cleveland Scholarship.

A link to Bob's obit in The Plain Dealer is below:

/www.cleveland.com/obituary/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1242203505199160.xml&coll=2

Bob Snyder dies

Bob Snyder, a former assistant manager editor, national editor,

Washington and Columbus bureau chief, died at his

Worthington, Oh home

Saturday, May 10. His wife,Pat, found him in

front of the tv, the golf
channel on. He was 64.
Calling hours 6-9pm on Wednesday, May 13 at the RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington.
Memorial service at 11am on Thursday, May 14 at Congregation Beth Tikvah, 6121 Olentangy River Road, Worthington, 43085

Ray Hart dies

Friday, April 24, 2009
Grant Segall
Plain Dealer Reporter
Ray Hart seemed to have spies everywhere.
"He had a scoop every day," said Bill Hickey, Hart's longtime partner in covering TV and radio for The Plain Dealer. "He drove the Press nuts."
Hart died April 14 at Fisher Titus Medical Cen ter, near his home in Nor walk. He was 80.
Hart spent about 32 years at The Plain Dealer, starting as a school sports reporter and winding up as a features copy editor. But the big, quiet, cheerful man was best known for a long stint in between with TV and radio.
He was born in North Canton and graduated from Hoover High School there. He spent a few years living in Canal Fulton and working for his father's meat and meat locker business.
"Ray hated every minute of it," his wife, the former Joan Dimpsey, recalled Tuesday.
Hart briefly studied undertaking in Indiana, then came home and found his life's work. He covered the region's acclaimed school sports for six years with the Canton Repository and several with The Plain Dealer.
Then he covered TV and radio with equal enthusiasm. He hit it off with touchy stars such as Dorothy Fuldheim and went fishing with a few of them.
In a sometimes slovenly profession, he favored a tie and jacket. He also smoked a pipe for many years. The doctor finally told him to cut down. Hart quit cold turkey.
He broke another longtime habit last year. He missed his first Ohio basketball championship in 56 years.
"He thought 55 was a good place to stop," said his widow.
Hart retired from The Plain Dealer in 1993 and edited stories for the Sun Newspapers.
In 1997, the couple moved to Norwalk to be near their daughter, Karen. There he wrote and announced for WLKR FM/95.3 and edited the bulletin of First Presbyterian Church.

This would have been a great contest

A Plain Dealer wry wit revisited by Richard G. Ellers

The late Robert T. Stock was variously a Plain Dealer reporter, editorial writer, Letters to the Editor editor and a not-often-enough humor columnist.

A spouse-induced chore of cleaning my desk was pleasantly interrupted today when I found a clipping I'd saved, a prime example of Bob's wry wit.

No matter that the date is missing from the clip, most of his words still work, albeit some lines outdated: Sorry, these were pre-computer days, you hadda be there to enjoy them.

Thoughts

by Robert T. Stock

By the time you read this, the Press Club of Cleveland will have picked its news media award winners and they deserve a lot of credit, but I would like to suggest some additional award categories, all in the newspaper section.

As follows:

1 Best news story written while intoxicated.

2. Snottiest remark by assistant city editor to a male reporter under 40.

3. Snottiest remark to an assistant city editor by a reporter (male or female) over 55.

4. Best feature story by a reporter sticking his nose into somebody else's beat.

5. Neatest copy boy. (Repeated efforts to revive this category have failed for lack of competition., but it is worth one more try.)

6. Most imaginative expense account by a reporter working under deadline pressure ("How was I to know they had another hotel in Chicago?")

7. Tallest copy editor who graduated from a Big Ten college.

8. Best sports story written in long hand.

9. Most attractive wig worn by a society editor who does not have a private office.

10. Most incisive quotes composed by reporter writing without help of notes.

11. Best editorial written without nagging fear of facts.

12. Longest hook shot into city room wastebasket. (Separate competition for Plain Dealer and Press due to higher ceilings at Press.)

13. Best sports story written in high German under deadline pressure.

14. Most vicious memo by a reporter who is sure of employment elsewhere.

15. Most vicious memo by a reporter who is not sure of employment elsewhere.

16. Any sports story which gives the score in the first paragraph.

16A. Headline least related to a story.

17. Neatest locker

---

New Deals on Dell Netbooks - Now starting at $299

Adios to David Briggs

Help send former religion writer David Briggs off to Nashville! Join him at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at the Agora, 5000 Euclid Ave. Cash bar and menu.
Pls help spread the word accordingly.
Agora management asked for a crowd estimate. Pls RSVP with a yes, no, maybe, depends if I've finished my 1040, whatever.
Hope to see you there!
Please RSVP to Grant Segall: grantsegall@msn.com

It's lunch time!

PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates
Casual unstructured lunch troupe
Gather for lunch on the last Fridays of January, April, July and October
Spouses and guests always welcome

NEXT LUNCHEON: 12:30 p.m., Friday, April 24

PLACE: Li Wah Restaurant, 2999 Payne Avenue (Asian Plaza, E. 30th Street and Payne)

MENU: (Family style) appetizer, cashew shrimp, chicken with mixed vegetables, pepper steak, rice, tea and cookie.

Cost: $12 plus tip

RSVP by Monday, April 20
Janet Beighle French (216) 221-2318, or email jabfr519@sbcglobal.net
JoAnn Pallant (440) 734-1923, or email japallant@sbcglobal.net

Tom Kaib dies

From The Plain Dealer
Thursday, March 26, 2009 Grant Segall
Plain Dealer Reporter

Lakewood -- Tom Kaib found stories all over.

He wrote about a felon turned deputy sheriff in Hardin County, motorcycle jumpers in Indiana and motel pitchman Tom Bodett in Alaska.

"He could pick a name off the map and go do a story on that place," said his wife, the former Shirley Arnett.

Kaib won many statewide and local prizes for stories, photos and headlines during 38 years working at The Plain Dealer.

He died Tuesday at his Lakewood home of complications of cancer. He was 71.

Kaib the reporter had a light touch.

"Baldy the bald eagle flew to Hueston Woods State Park courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service," he once began a story about rehabilitating wounded birds. "He was air-mailed."

Kaib the copy editor was firm, helpful and knowledgeable about grammar and local lore, from addresses to middle initials (a requirement back then).

Kaib the headline writer was playful: "Vroom of their own / Women motorcyclists shift to the front seat."

He was born in Wheeling, W.Va., joined that city's Intelligencer at 17 and worked his way through West Liberty State College. He also taught English at Warwood High School for a year, doubled as track coach with no experience in the sport and led the team to a state championship.

He joined The Plain Dealer in 1964.

In an era of looser workplaces, Kaib used to burn a candle to dissipate the newsroom's plentiful tobacco smoke. He also kept a hunting knife on his desk for paring apples and marking pages in books he'd read on breaks.

Kaib often moonlighted for other papers, sometimes under a pseudonym to avoid The Plain Dealer's wrath. On two straight Thursdays, Shirley's bowling day, Tom dashed to the scenes of bank robberies while Lakewood Sun-Post editors baby-sat the Kaibs' three preschoolers.

On the side, Kaib loved to fish Lake Erie and Rocky River. He gave away his golf clubs young but, after retiring in 2002, he helped at the Mastick Woods golf shop at Rocky River Reservation a couple of days a week.

(And the death notice:H. THOMAS KAIB, 71, of Lakewood, OH. Died March 24, 2009, at home. He had cancer. He was born Sept. 1, 1937, in Wheeling, WV, the son of the late Harold J. and Rita T. (nee Poulton) Kaib. He was a reporter, photographer and copy editor of The Plain Dealer newspaper, in Cleveland, for 38 years. Surviving are his wife, Shirley (nee Arnett) Kaib; two sons, Scott (wife, Gloriann), of Strongsville, OH and Donald of Deerfield Beach, FL; a daughter, Maria Locsei, of Mission Viejo, CA. Brother John (wife, Nancy), of Sun City, AZ and a sister, Mary Ann Kaib, of Wheeling, WV and three grandchildren, Cristi, Nicole and Jamie, of Strongsville, OH. Services were private, through the Cleveland Memorial Society. Contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Western Reserve.)

Have lunch with Brent, Betsy and Joe

Brent Larkin, long-time Plain Dealer Editorial Page Director, will soon retire. Elizabeth Sullivan, currently on the PD’s Editorial Board, has been named to take Brent’s place and fellow Editorial Board member Joe Frolik has been promoted to Chief Editorial Writer.

The Press Club of Cleveland is pleased to present two of Ohio’s most-influential journalists at a "Meet the Media" luncheon on Tuesday, March 3 (Snow Date: March 9). This event will take place at Nighttown (http://www.nighttowncleveland.com), home of The Press Club and Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame, in Cleveland Heights. For full details about this luncheon, please go to http://tinyurl.com/d8txec This event is open to non-members. Seats are strictly limited, so early reservations are strongly recommended.
For specific questions, call Bruce Hennes, event chair, at 216-321-7774 or by email at hennes@crisiscommunications.com.

For information about The Press Club of Cleveland or to read a copy of our monthly publication, The Byliner: http://www.pressclubcleveland.com

Look who showed up

About 35 former Plain Dealer staffers gathered at Mahle's Restaurant in Westlake on Friday, Jan. 20, 2008 for lunch and conversation. We could have put out our own paper what with the variety of talent. Here's some photos. For more images go to flickr.com/photos/rosebud

Don Bean was telling "true stories" while Jim Hatch showed photos of his new grandson. Dick Zunt, Lori Onder and Bob Dolgan caught up.

Jan Harayda sighting

Jan Harayda, former Plain Dealer book editor, is
working on her third novel while participating in the Writer in
Residence program at the Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts in
Fairhope, Ala.

The local newspaper, Baldwin County Now, did a story about her.
The link:
www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2009/01/30/local_news/doc4979ed78c8b5a792691752.txt

Meet the author, Tom Diemer

Tom Diemer,
former Washington and Columbus bureau reporter, was in Cleveland Sunday, Jan. 11 for a book signing party. Tom's book, "Fighting the Unbeatable Foe," is the story of the political life of the late Senator Howard Metzenbaum. Helping him celebrate at Nighttown were about 35 people including several retired PD colleagues. Diemer also spoke to the City Club Monday. He's now with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism . For more photos go to flickr.com/photos/rosebud

January luncheon is here, Jan. 30

PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates

Casual unstructured lunch troupe

Gather for lunch on the last Fridays of January, April, July and October

Spouses and guests always welcome

NEXT LUNCHEON: Noon, Friday, January 30

PLACE: Mahle’s Restaurant

24945 Detroit Road

Westlake OH 44145

Between Columbia and Clague Roads, on south side

Cost: $12.95 including entrée, beverage, tax and gratuity

Choice of Entrées:

Steak Salad

Shrimp Scampi over Angel Hair Pasta

Grilled Chicken Sandwich w/ Fries

Vegetarian Pasta Primavera also available

RSVP by January 23

Janet Beighle French (216) 221-2318, or email jabfr519@sbcglobal.net

JoAnn Pallant (440) 734-1923, or email japallant@sbcglobal.net

Chris Stephens' farewell party

About two or so weeks ago, photographer Chris Stephens left The Plain Dealer, one of about 25 people who left on their own, taking the "buyout." For photos from her party at the Mardi Gras, go to flickr.com/photos/rosebud

A little levity from the past

Former makeup man Bill Fenton sent us this old photo a while
back. Those were the good ole days in the old PD building when hijinks were commonplace. Why Lustig was playing Superman is unknown, but not surprising. Several in the photo are deceased, including Lustig. If you know of others, please comment.

Man of Steel in PD Sports Department:

Seated on left, front to back: Ernie Rocco, Winfield Leathers, Bob Dolgan.

In the slot: George Peters, behind him is Gene Hersh on right and Chuck Webster. (now a lawyer/politician in Lake County)

Seated behind "Superman" (Dennis Lustig) is copy boy Sheldon Rubenstein.

Picture was taken about 1971, either by Dick Conway or Ray Matjasic, but I'm guessing on both counts.

------ Bill Fenton