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.
bttt
Prayers for his family.
Prayers - Novak was one of a kind, last of a breed.
RIP Mr. Novak
RIP. Prayers for his family, friends and fans.
A sad loss. Prayers for his family.
Didn’t always agree with the crotchety old guy, but he had some very good points. Death is a day we will all have to face at some point, but today, RIP Bob.
So sorry to hear it. 78 is too young these days.
Such an interesting man. It was always fascinating to hear his commentary and insight. Not to mention his jabs at the left.
I’ll be curious to see if there is a media orgasm over Novak comparable to Red Walter or that fat liberal from NBC, since Novak was a moderate/conservative.
I’m betting he is ungreieved by the media; all they will mention is the fake spy nonsense.
The thing I will remember is that he started the downfall of the Bush Administration by publishing the Plame story.
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.
Obviously they couldn't confirm the year by deadline.
I was just thinking about Bob Novak the other day, wondering how he was doing.
May he rest in peace.
He was a giant in a land of midgets at a time when the country badly needed his voice. He didn’t disappoint. There was much to admire in this man.
My favorite Novak memory was from a Crossfire program, years ago.
Novak used to be on it with Tom Braden, who was about 100 years old and a hardcore liberal.
The format was that the show was hosted by a conservative (Novak) and a liberal (Braden). One of the two would open the program with his own introduction, then the other would launch into the bod of the show.
This day, Braden opened with this spiel. I wish I could remember the topic or specifics, but it was just a laundry list of liberal bile and twisting.
Camera cuts to Novak, who’s supposed to launch. Instead, he just has this incredulous look on his face, sort of a half-smile. He’s speechless for a second. Then he just says, “I can’t believe you actually said that.”
It wasn’t smooth and polished and plastic. Novak spoke for me in that instance, and I was glad of it.
RIP Bob.
He was also a devoted Maryland Terrapin basketball fan (as am I). I used to enjoy seeing him on TV in the stands behind the team.
He will be missed.
This was the end of Novak right here...he discovered he had a brain tumor only a few days later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7A0ZTxltBw
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