Posted on 08/18/2009 9:06:24 AM PDT by freespirited
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak, one of the nation’s most influential journalists, who relished his “Prince of Darkness” public persona, died at home here early Tuesday morning after a battle with brain cancer.
“He was someone who loved being a journalist, love journalism and loved his country and loved his family, Novak’s wife, Geraldine, told the Sun-Times on Tuesday.
Novak’s remarkable and long-running career made him a powerful presence in newspaper columns, newsletters, books and on television.
On May 15, 1963, Novak teamed up with the late Rowland Evans Jr. to create the “Inside Report” political column, which became the must-read syndicated column. Evans tapped Novak, then a 31-year old correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, to help with the workload of a six-day-a-week column.
Evans and Novak were the od d couple: Evans a Philadelphia blue blood and Yale graduate; Novak from Joliet, Ill. who attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana campus.
Novak handled the column solo after Evans retired in 1993. The Chicago Sun-Times has been Novak’s home paper since 1966.
Robert David Sanders Novak, 78, was born and raised in Joliet and his first newspaper jobs were with the Joliet Herald-News and, while a student at the University of Illinois, the Champaign-Urbana Courier. Novak maintained a lifelong tie to the University of Illinois with the school creating the Robert D. Novak chair of Western Civilization and Culture in 200X.
Mrs. Novak said that her husband passed away at 4:30 a.m., returning home after being hospitalized between July 10 and July 24. Novak’s malignant brain tumor was discovered July 27, 2008.
Me too. I thought I might have missed his passing somehow, so I looked it up and saw that he was still around.
RIP Mr Novak.
RIP Novak. A true newspaper man.
God Bless, RIP.
I can tell you that a cursory scanning of some liberal news and blog sites just now that they are happy he is dead and dancing on his grave (some are vicious). But I will be fair and say that a few postings also gave prayers to the family.
Nothing unexpected from the left. Disgraceful as always.
Thank you for your efforts on earth
God Bless You!
Many of us will miss you, Bob, but I’m sure Roland is glad to have his old friend back.
Prayers for Robert’s soul and the family.
God bless him. Novak became a Roman Catholic in 1998.
I second that. He was a friend and classmate of my father and uncle.
Sorry but I won’t shed a tear for him. He let this whole Valerie Plame fiasco go by and ruin peoples lives knowing that it was Richard Armitage who first leaked her name. Patrick Fitzgerald is another one I won’t weep for. Armitage either.
Sad. I really liked the guy.
RIP, Bob.
If you had read Novak’s autobiography “The Prince of Darkness” I think you would call him the thinking man’s conservative.
RIP. A huge loss.
Thank you Mr. Novak for a lifetime of service dubunking the insanity of the left and for providing some sanity and respectability for the flagrantly partisan liberal media.
Prayers for his family. He will be missed.
I don’t disagree with that statement.
His performance in the Plame nonsense was disappointing, however.
That didn't take long.
Stay classy... /sarc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.