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Margaret “Margo” Gordon (BSJ61, MSJ62)

Alumna and former Medill faculty member Margaret “Margo” Gordon died peacefully on April 1, 2021 in Seattle.

Gordon was born in Dixon, Ill. While in high school, she attended the Medill Cherubs summer program. After graduation from Aurora High School, she was awarded a scholarship to attend Northwestern and would go on to have a lifelong affiliation with the University. She earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from Medill and then a Ph.D. in sociology, also at Northwestern. She later served as a professor at Medill and, from 1980 to 1988, as director of the Center for Urban Affairs.

Between her various degrees, she spent three years in Nsukka, Nigeria with her first husband, Halfdan Johnson. While there, Margo helped students at the University of Nigeria start a student-run newspaper, the “Nsukka Record,” the first of its kind. It is still published today as “The Record,” a major national Nigerian newspaper. She also lived for a year in Aarhus, Denmark and worked as a reporter and editor for the Chattanooga Times and the St. Petersburg Times before returning to Evanston to complete her Ph.D.

In one of her classes, she met Andy Gordon. They married soon after and both went on to spend nearly 20 years as professors and, in Margo’s case, as a university administrator, at Northwestern. During that time, Margo authored or co-authored several books, including the widely acclaimed “The Female Fear” and “The Journalism of Outrage: Investigative Reporting and Agenda Building in America.”

In 1989, Margo and Andy were recruited to the University of Washington. Margo became Dean of the Graduate School of Public Affairs (now known as the Evans School), which she directed until she retired. She was inducted into the Medill Hall of Achievement inaugural class in 1997.

Margo will be remembered for bringing out the best in people and figuring out how to support them as a friend, professor, university administrator, dean or family member.

“She left no doubt with her friends and family how much she cared about them and was always her authentic caring self,” says Andy. “Margo really did have a twinkle in her eye and an enthusiasm that was infectious. She was also tenacious and fought fiercely on behalf of journalistic values, including at the Center, where an interdisciplinary team she pulled together co-authored a book on investigative reporting,” he adds.

“From the time of my recruitment until Margo left Northwestern, she was a mentor, colleague, co-author and role model for me,” says Medill Emeritus Professor Donna Leff. “She brought me in to the Center for Urban Affairs and led a communications research group there that produced coauthored work in journalism and policy—media influence in setting social and policy agendas. Margo’s seminal early work identified the connection between media coverage of rape and the way victims of sexual violence were treated by the criminal justice system and by society more generally.” Leff adds, “Her husband Andy is right—everyone liked the always smiling Margo.”

Medill Associate Professor Emeritus George Harmon was on the full-time faculty with Gordon from 1980 to when she left for Washington. “Anyone who met Margo knew instantly that hers was an incisive and inquisitive mind, interested in nearly everything,” Harmon says. “She was a delightful, supportive colleague on the faculty. Perhaps best of all, she was constantly cheerful.”

Medill Professor Jack Doppelt marvels that Margo and Andy lived inspiring lives – “companion scholars in related fields, both revered on campus, who left indelible impressions; Margo with her uplifting nature, Andy with his robust laugh.”

Margo is survived by her husband Andy, children Sarah (Scott) and Seth (Bootsy), brother Joe (Barbara), grandchildren Carenna and Drake, and many wonderful friends and family members. Her family is grateful that they were able to be with her in her final days despite COVID-19.

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Jerry Rossow (BSJ61)

Jerry Rossow passed away at Lakeland Community Hospital in Michigan on Friday, December 6, 2019 with his family by his side. He was 80.

After graduating from Buchanan High School, class of 1957, Rossow then attended Northwestern University and later received his MBA from Indiana University. He served in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1965. He married Edna Jaracz, who passed in 1978, and to that union was born a daughter, Elizabeth. On July 31, 1982 he married Kathryn Strayer at a ceremony in Niles; together they then raised their children, Peter and Sarah.

After a long career with Clark Equipment Company, he became Chief Financial Officer for Towne Air Freight, Inc. of South Bend, and the former Electro-Voice Company in Buchanan. He served in various boards and volunteering capacities. He was the co-founder of the Buchanan Fine Arts Council, served on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien and Cass as well as President of the Buchanan School Board.

He took full advantage of his retirement and was able to enjoy many of his passions. He enjoyed opportunities to watch his grandchildren excel at sports and loved to watch Northwestern football games. He and Kathy were also long-time University of Michigan Football season ticket holders. When Michigan weather cooperated he would spend time outdoors working in his garden or traveling to Glen Lake, Mich., during the summers to enjoy the scenery and friends and family who would visit. He particularly enjoyed his time Up North grilling out, fishing, and spending time in Glen Arbor, Mich., with his grandchildren.

Preceding Rossow are his parents, Carl and Waunita Rossow and his first wife, Edna Jaracz.

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/9402775/Jerry-Rossow

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1960s Legacies

Daniel Harrison (BSJ64)

Daniel S. Harrison died on April 28 at 76. He was a resident of Westchester County, New York, for most of his life. He graduated from Edgemont High School in 1960 and from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in 1964.

Harrison was a reporter on the White Plains Dispatch and City Editor of the Yonkers Herald Statesman. Both later owned by Gannett newspapers.jhe also worked in Public Relations with General Foods. He later wrote for trade publications Chain Store Age Executive and Frozen Food Age. He was an avid reader of biography, history and politics.

In his retirement, he volunteered as editor and writer for the Astronomy Newsletter of New York City and for the Friends of Music Newsletter in Westchester.

He was predeceased by his wife Mollie Cohen in 1997 and by his parents Molly and Neil Harrison formerly of Hartsdale. His sister Abby Eller of Ithaca survives him and his niece and nephew Anne and Joshua Eller also of Ithaca.

https://obits.lohud.com/obituaries/lohud/obituary.aspx?n=daniel-s-harrison&pid=196184798&fhid=21959

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Ann Valerie Freemon (BSJ63)

Ann V. Fremon (nee Adams), 78, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 13, 2020. She was born on November 17, 1941 in Denver, Colorado and lived an extraordinary life full of travel and exploration with her loving husband of 55 years, Mike Fremon.

Fremom received her bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and she was also a sister of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She traveled throughout Europe after college and returned to Chicago to work as a copywriter for Sears, Roebuck and Co.

After meeting Mike through mutual friends, they were soon married and moved to Ohio, eventually planting roots in Richfield, Ohio. While balancing raising her three sons, Ann was the longtime editor of the Richfield and Bath Community News and Calendar publications. These formed the foundation of some current community papers in the area.

She was also elected Richfield Township Clerk during a transformative time in Richfield’s history, including the time when The Coliseum was built. She also started and managed several successful small businesses.

In 2018, Mike, Ann and their two American Samoyed dogs Winter and Wonder, drove to the Arctic Circle. The 12,000-mile expedition took them through Alaska and all western provinces of Canada. Ann and Mike also found a special connection with Newfoundland and Labrador, the furthest east Canadian province, a location so remote it has its own time zone.

Fremon celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her family in Bonaire in 2014, going back with them again in 2019. Ann’s smile and heart touched a lot of people in her life. As one person put it, “she was the cool mom that always seemed to give us enough space to be adventurous, stood by while we did stupid things, letting us find our way, and somehow managing to keep us safe at the same time.”

She is survived by her sons, Sean (Michelle) Fremon, Matt (Lindsey) Fremon and Ward (Tracy) Fremon and her cherished grandchildren, Megan, Lauren, Erica, Cole, Tyler, Johnathon, Alexander and Zachary.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ohio/obituary.aspx?n=ann-v-fremon&pid=196202501&fhid=4396

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Carl Harris (MSJ63)

Carl Leigh Harris, husband of Ann Harris and father of Amy Leigh Tremante and Courtney Harris, passed away in Arlington, Texas Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Harris was born in Wichita Falls, Texas to, Leigh Mack Harris and Mary Jane Harris. He graduated from Baylor University with his B.A. in Journalism and received his Master’s from Medill. He began his career as a journalist with the Dallas Morning News and later became the director of Public Relations for Bell Helicopter where he worked for over 38 years. He was an avid reader and loved the arts, enjoying the Dallas Symphony and Kimbell Art Museum. He was called to help others, serving on the board of the Arlington Women’s Shelter, volunteering for the Arlington Life Shelter and teaching at the Arlington Reads program of the public library. He will be remembered for his bright eyes, joyful smile, and energetic spirit. Harris  is survived by his wife; daughters; brother, Terry Harris and his wife, Barbara Harris; sister, Holly Harris; sister-in-law, Pam Elam; son-in-law, Vincent Tremante; and grandsons, Evan, Aaron and Ian Tremante.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/carl-harris-obituary?pid=196316215

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Constance Byrne (BSJ60)

Constance Byrne (Connie or “Momo” to her grandchildren), age 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 31, 2021. She married the love of her life, Frank Owen Byrne, on May 2, 1947, who preceded her in death in 1986.

She was a wonderful mother, a strong, independent woman, a true role model in the days when it was not customary to juggle family and career.

Some 14 years after her marriage and six children later, she returned to school to finish her journalism degree at Northwestern. 10 years after she completed her degree and another child later, she returned to school again to become an Illinois-certified teacher. She taught at the Westmoor Elementary School in the Northbrook School District 28 until the age of 69. With hands-on activities and by teaching real life skills, she showed learning could be fun and meaningful. She also managed to serve her community as vice president and program chair of the North Shore Auxiliary of the Chicago Child Care Society and served on the Girl Scout Board.

She remained very active during her retirement years, travelling as far as Egypt with a church group, being an active member of the North Shore Senior Center, and enlarging her circle of lifetime friendships. Family trips also took her out to California, Texas, Australia, Austria, Mauritius, the Reunion Island and back to her roots in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Her motto was, “You are never too old.” She even formed a chorus when the Vi at the Glen, a senior living facility, opened in 2002. She saw this as an opportunity to create harmony, with both song and friendship. She never lost her love of music. As a child she saved her milk money for singing lessons. It paid off, as she sang for many years at the OLPH choir and organized annual Christmas caroling parties. As a close family friend put it, she is having a great time singing in the heavenly choirs. She knows she was loved and cherished.

Her greatest joy was her family. She was the loving mother of Connie Meek (Brian), the late Debbie Bakanec (Larry), Wendy Dubreuil (Alain), Melanie Smith (Ronald), Lisa Byrne-Prescott, Frank Byrne Jr. (Arlene) and Mary Prochotsky (Dave); the cherished grandmother of Chris (Nina), Amanda (Matt), Lexi (Steven), Allison, Brett (Jessamyn), Catherine (Frank), Eric, Stephanie (Michael), Charles (Robin), Jessica (Brian), Jonathan (Makenna), Andrew, Michael, Robert, Kimberly (Ty), Sidra, Josh (Paige) and Jenny (Garret); and adoring great grandmother of Ella, Lucas, Oliver, Claire, Leo, Mathew, Gracelyn, Gabriel, Mathis, JT, Olivia, Owen, Liam, Abigail, Eleanor, Ethan, Alex, and Mila.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/constance-byrne-obituary?pid=197633960

 

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Ed Bryant (BSJ63, LAW67)

Ed Bryant, who served on the Students Publishing Company board of directors for 48 years, died Sept. 20. He was 78.

Story by Isabelle Sarraf, (BSJ23) Campus Editor, Daily Northwestern

Serving on the board of Students Publishing Company for 48 years, Ed Bryant’s colleagues pegged his commitment and longevity to The Daily Northwestern’s “legacy of journalistic excellence” as typical of his character.

A former opinion writer at The Daily in the 1960s, the Medill and Pritzker alum joined the SPC board of directors — The Daily’s governing body — in 1972.

“To say he was the pillar of the organization would be an understatement,” John Byrne, chair of the SPC board of directors and former Daily editor in chief, said of Bryant’s legacy.

L. Edward Bryant, Jr., an “instrumental” force behind SPC’s evolution and survival, died unexpectedly of a new recurrence of cancer Sept. 20 at the age of 78. He is survived by his three daughters, Laura, Diane and Emily, as well as two grandchildren, Sydney and Miles.

Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat

Byrne, who knew Bryant since 1989, said Bryant always cared deeply for The Daily as an institution and ensured it endured for generations to come.

Bryant was one of the driving forces of the Campaign for the Future of The Daily Northwestern in 2014 — a move to transition The Daily’s business model to a digital one that relied only on advertising revenue to pay the bills. Bryant understood early on, Byrne said, that the future of print advertising was in trouble, and his foresight helped shape what The Daily is today.

“He was terrific to work with on the board, always listening, but also providing historical perspective that literally cannot be replaced,” Byrne said. “He often had a good story or anecdote to share, pretty much given whatever subject we were discussing, but it was clear that the Wildcats were so near and dear to his heart.”

A lifelong supporter of Northwestern, Bryant had been a football season ticket holder since 1963. According to an obituary written by his daughters, he was a proud Evanston resident for 61 years and “appreciated the diversity and community spirit” — especially the annual 4th of July parades.

He also often spent weekends with his family at Rock Haven, a lakeside cottage in Wisconsin, nicknamed “The Purple Palace” due to its decor. Its walls were fully adorned in purple — a tribute “to his beloved Wildcats.”

An “indomitable spirit”

Medill Dean Charles Whitaker met Bryant in 2003 when he joined the SPC board of directors and remembers Bryant’s “thoughtful presence” throughout the years in steering the company. Bryant was the board’s “de facto” libel attorney, as well as a trustworthy counselor and advisor when it came to selecting editors in chief, Whitaker said.

Even when Whitaker stepped down from the board, he and Bryant remained close. Always a supporter of student journalism, Bryant would share stories written in The Daily with Whitaker that he would find interesting or important and engage in conversations about the publishing industry. Outside of his role on SPC, Bryant was also well-known for his dedication to a particular hobby.

Bryant’s joy of fishing never wavered, according to his colleagues, evident from the “several” trips he made every year.

“In the entire time that I knew him, he was always battling cancer of one form or another, but he was always hearty and happy,” Whitaker said. “Once after a particularly difficult bout of (chemotherapy) — he was as upbeat as he always was — I asked him how he was doing and he said he was going fishing.”

The entire time he was battling cancer, Whitaker said Bryant would “never” miss a trip and always make a point to set out on Lake Michigan. Bryant’s perseverance and unwavering morale, Whitaker said, is something he’s always admired.

A “storied” legal career

After graduating from NU, Bryant started his legal career at Gardner Carton & Douglas in 1967 and worked in the field until 2010. At the firm, he founded its Health Care Practice in 1979 and served as the chair of the Health Care Department years thereafter, also serving on the firm’s Management Committee.

Over the course of his career, he served on the faculty of Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law and the Kellogg School of Management. In 2011, the L. Edward Bryant, Jr. National Health Law Transactional Competition was established by Loyola to engage law students in dialogue with practitioners in a real-world setting about legal issues pertaining to health care providers.

In 1985, Bryant was named as one of the most outstanding health lawyers in the country by the National Law Journal, and then again in 1991 by both the Illinois Legal Times and Chicago Lawyer Magazine.

According to Edwin Getz, his partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath — GCD’s successor firm — Bryant counseled clients on hundreds of health care industry restructurings, hospital and health system mergers, and more. Many of his cases in health law involved some of the largest health care providers in the country, Getz wrote.

Not only was he admired and widely respected by his clients and colleagues, but Getz added that Bryant is “widely and justifiably regarded” as having originated the discipline of health law.

“(Bryant) cared deeply about (the firm’s) people, no matter their position at the firm or station in life,” Getz told The Daily. “He always made it his highest priority, regardless of his frenetic schedule, to devote the time to mentor colleagues and friends who sought out his guidance, especially young lawyers.”

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Photo:
Ed Bryant, left, honors former SPC Board Chair and current Medill Dean Charles Whitaker, right, at The Daily’s 2018 Homecoming Celebration. (SeanSuPhoto | PurplePhotoCo)

Story republished with permission from The Daily 9/25/2020

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Loren “Marty” Hintz (MSJ68)

Loren Martin “Marty” Hintz passed away on Sunday, September 20, 2020, in his home surrounded by his family. He was 75. Marty dedicated his life to traveling and writing — learning as much as he could about the world, and sharing the stories with others.

“He was an incredibly expansive human being,” his son Daniel Hintz said, “and just had a zest for life that was really quite infectious.”

Daniel remembers his father, a “prolific storyteller,” was always looking for his next adventure. The publisher of the Irish American Post newspaper, Marty also wrote more than 125 books, his family says, and was Irish Fest’s first publicist.

Hintz grew up in the small Iowa farm town of New Hampton and studied journalism at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and at Northwestern University, then worked at the Milwaukee Sentinel.

He later became a freelance writer, his inquisitive spirit never fading. When the family went out to a restaurant, Hintz would pepper the waitress with questions, his son remembers.

“He was constantly mining for stories, constantly mining for ideas for the next adventure,” Daniel Hintz said.

Marty overflowed with tales of his travels and his latest projects — but his most meaningful, his son believes, was his journey to find his father’s downed plane in Italy.

Loren Hintz, a fighter pilot, died at 27 when his plane crashed in Italy just before the end of World War II. Marty Hintz was born six weeks later.

He endeavored to know the father he never met, undertaking years of research and digs to find the plane.

When he died, Hintz was producing a documentary about his family’s 2017 successful search for the plane. His family is now working to raise money to complete it in his honor.

Hintz’s friends from Italy, Ireland and around the world have been reaching out to his family since his death, recalling his kind nature and love of storytelling. Daniel Hintz said he’s gotten at least 500 messages from those who knew him.

Hintz is survived by his wife, Pam Percy, his children Daniel (Kassie) Hintz, Steve (Rashauna) Hintz, Katie (Garrick Topp) Hintz; step-children Matthew (Jennifer) Segel, Katie (Matt Liban) Segel, Ross (Abby) Segel; and 19 grandchildren.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2020/09/27/marty-hintz-dies-75-friends-family-recall-love-travel-stories/3526457001/

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Paul “Stan” Carlson (MSJ64)

Paul Stanley “Stan” Carlson, 81, of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, passed away Monday, December 21, 2020. 

He was the beloved husband of Mary Carlson; loving father of Eric and Christopher Carlson; beloved son of Reverend Paul E. Carlson and Ruth Anderson Carlson and stepmother Wilma Jewel Carlson; fond grandfather of Shayley Lynn and Ian Carlson; dear brother of Lynette Rathbone and the late Marilyn Carlson and Pauline Nelson; and fond uncle of Brad Nelson, Kay Mork, Janine Starceuich, Lynda Kay, Erin Wester and Scot Effenheim.

https://www.dupagecremations.com/obituary/Paul-Stanley-Stan-Carlson/Oakbrook-Terrace-IL/1883300

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Domini T. Suarez (MSJ67)

Domini Torrevillas Suarez died Monday, December 28, 2020, in her hometown of Gingoog, Philippines. She was 80 years old.

Domini was a columnist for the Phillipine STAR. Her column “From The Stands” came out in the newspaper’s opinion section every Tuesday and Thursday. She was a feature writer and editor of Panorama magazine in Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. from 1961 to 1987 before she joined The STAR as columnist.

Domini attended Gingoog Institute in Misamis Oriental for high school and earned her bachelor’s degree in English at Silliman University in 1961. She attended the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in 1967. She was awarded Outstanding Sillimanian in the field of Journalism in 1980.

“At the height of martial law, she was … subjected to military threats, harassments and intimidations for her daring reporting,” wrote a classmate of Domini’s.

She is survived by her husband, Saeed A. Daof; son, Andres Torrevillas Suarez; brother, Lemuel Torrevillas; and sister-in-law, Rowena Tiempo.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/29/2066809/star-columnist-domini-torrevillas-writes-30