Here is a remembrance editorial assistant Sue Klein wrote about Harry West.
I wanted to share some sad news with everyone. If you have been at The Plain Dealer longer than 2000, undoubtedly you crossed paths in some capacity with Harry West and Janet McCue. Janet died in 2003, Harry passed away yesterday in Las Vegas, he was 89.
Janet and Harry retired in 2001, after more than 40 years in the business. Janet was the award winning fashion editor, and Harry was the women's editor, the copy desk chief and when he retired, he was the deputy features editor. Janet was a larger-than-life personality and Harry was happiest basking in her glow. He was Janet's biggest champion and gushed at her every success. He was the subject of many columns written by Janet, scrutinizing his style sense or lack there of. Harry was born and raised in Mansfield. He was a navy man, serving his country, and, he was a damn fine newspaper man.
Harry loved to play golf, in fact he bought me a set of lefty clubs and patiently tried to teach me to play. He would try not to yell every time I lifted my head up and tried to hit the ball like it was a hockey puck. I never learned to appreciate the game, but I loved the countless hours I spent on the courses with him.
He loved to travel, especially to Hawaii and Las Vegas. He loved to gamble – especially keno. I was out visiting him in 2005, and he hit on keno five times that day winning over $5,700. He was generous to a fault. Always picked up the check and was insulted when anyone attempted to pick it up.
He wore loud Hawaiian shirts as a badge of honor. He wore a pocket square, hell, He wore whatever Janet told him to wear. He was kind, funny, charming and smart as can be.
Harry loved all Cleveland teams. I was sitting next to him September 8, 1995 when the Indians hoisted the Central Division championship flag. Janet paid a fortune to a ticket broker to make sure we were at that game. He drove an hour with me on Sunday afternoons to Freemont, Ohio to watch blacked out Browns games. When Bernie Kosar was released, it was a week before my birthday. Bernie signed with the Dallas Cowboys days later, and for my birthday, Harry bought me an authentic #18 Bernie Kosar Cowboys jersey.
Harry won't get an obit, because we don't do obits much any more, but he deserves one. He was not just my boss, he was my second father, and he was my beloved friend, and I'm sad that I will have to live in a world without him. The greatest peace I find in his death is that he is reunited with Janet. He's probably singing her the polka he wrote, drinking a glass of red wine and grinning from ear to ear that he is with his girl again.
Rest in Peace you kind, gentle soul.
Thank you for your indulgence.
Harry Dale West – November 15, 1925 – December 22, 2014.
