Tuesday, October 27, 2020
I had the pleasure of working with Bob Haskell on the Herald-Journal/Herald American news desk in the late '80s to 1990, and knowing him for all or parts of five decades. He was a consummate editor, always willing to help the supervisor (me) and other colleagues with any task that came his way. He delighted in "crossing swords" over the eccentricities of The Associated Press Stylebook, Merriam-Webster dictionary and, with his view often prevailing, common sense. Less than two months ago, he emailed me and the newspaper's former top editor about a debate we'd had more than 30 years ago dealing with the terms "laid off" and "fired." He was so proud of the newspaper and his role in making it both exceptionally accurate and -- especially in the case of the Sunday Herald American -- the leading news source in all of Central New York. Yet his family was always No. 1 in his heart, especially his dear wife Nancy, a delightful person I also had the privilege to know. Bob was one of the kindest people I ever met, and he kept me and many other former colleagues updated on his and Nancy's activities and health. I and many others will miss having Bob Haskell in this world, but I imagine he's already well-loved in the next.
