Eric Sandstrom retires

Former BJ reporter Eric Sandstrom is retiring from the Colorado Mesa University faculty in Grand Junction, Colorado, where is a mass media professor.

Eric is the advisor for the CMU student newspaper, the Criterion.

He has applied for still another career, as a park ranger in Rocky Mountains National Park.

He has been published in the New York Times, Denver Post, High Country News, and the Daily Sentinel. He was named Colorado Journalism Educator of the Year (2014) by the Society of Professional Journalists Colorado).

He worked for newspapers in Ohio, Illinois and Nebraska as a reporter, editor, photographer, columnist and sportswriter.

He has run 38 marathons, and several ultramarathons, including a 100-mile race. And searched for dinosaur fossils in Dinosaur Monument, which straddles Utah and Colorado on the northern edge of the Colorado Plateau.

Eric also has done a bit of elk hunting.

 

Eric worked at the Beacon Journal from 1986-1998. He once was managing editor / marketing & communications at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland.

His wife, Monica, once taught math at Roswell Kent Middle School in Akron.

When I asked Eric for more details about his life after Ol’ Blue Walls, he responded:

John,

In answer to your question, I retired in December at Colorado Mesa University after 10 years as  journalism prof. In addition to teaching at CMU, I was faculty advisor for the student newspaper, which is like herding cats that had too much to drink. In 2014, the Society of Professional Journalists honored me as Colorado's Journalism Educator of the Year. It was very humbling.

 

For several summers out here, I worked as a park ranger at Colorado National Monument, giving talks about wildlife, and taking visitors on hikes in the high desert canyons.

 

Prior to moving out here to Grand Junction, Colo., I worked at University Hospitals in Cleveland for 10 years, editing physician publications, pitching stories to the news media, and performing brain surgery whenever our neurosurgeons called in sick.

 

My wife, Monica, was a math teacher in Akron during my years (1984-1998) as a reporter for the ABJ. She retired, moved out here to Colorado (where our kids Angela and Nick also live) and manages a small furniture store. She loves her work, and also is an avid skier and hiker. 

 

With 20 years in newspapers (first Nebraska, then Illinois, finally Akron), I've never quite managed to get ink out of my blood. Today,  the newspaper here in Grand Junction published my op-ed about some of the generous folks who live and work here.

 

I volunteer for National Sports Center for the Disabled as a ski instructor in winter, and as a misguided cowboy in summer for kids who want to ride horses. Last summer, I worked as a volunteer in Rocky Mountain National Park, helping visitors on the back country trails and trying to keep them safe.

 

I applied for a job as a park ranger at Rocky, and am hopeful they will hire me to work in the back country, where mountain lions and moose reside but two-legged wildlife are the most unpredictable species.

 

Thanks,

 

Eric Sandstrom



Steve Berta & colleagues during his 1994 BJ Pulitzer days

Berta still has his ‘A’ game

 

Steve Berta, who was on the BJ team that won the 1994 Pulitzer for its “A Question of Color” series on race relations, is still doing quality investigative reporting.

 

He headed the team that detailed Olympics gymnastic pedophile team doctor Larry Nassar, who has been sent to prison until he dies.

 

Steve was business editor when he left the BJ in 1994 to become assistant managing editor/business for the Indianapolis Star, which detailed years of Dr. Nassar’s sexual abuse of Olympic hopeful girls.

 

More than 150 charged Dr. Nassar with his sick conduct.

 

 

You can congratulate Steve by phoning (317) 444-6280 at the Indianapolis Star.

 

 

Steve celebrated the BJ Pulitzer at Larry’s Bar at the same table with Bruce Winges, Michelle LeCompte, Joette Riley, Debby Stock Kiefer, Jim Kavanagh, Fred Gerlich, Phil Glende, David and Beth Hertz, Kerry Clawson and Athena Forrest.

The impressive list of Pulitzers for the BJ:

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

1968: Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing for John S. Knight, for a selection of his Editor’s Notebook weekly columns, largely opposing the Vietnam War and defending the public’s right to protest.

1971: Pulitzer Prize for General Local Reporting for coverage of the National Guard shootings that killed four students and wounded nine at Kent State University on May 4, 1970.

1987: Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting for “The Goodyear War.” The greenmail attack led by Sir James Goldsmith was costly to Goodyear and the Akron economy.

1994: Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for “A Question of Color,” a series that urged readers to examine and discuss race relations, attitudes and how race plays a part in housing, crime, business and education. It led to the formation of Coming Together, an organization that promoted racial harmony and cultural awareness.

 at the Indianapolis Star.

Steve celebrated the BJ Pulitzer at Larry’s Bar at the same table with Bruce Winges, Michelle LeCompte, Joette Riley, Debby Stock Kiefer, Jim Kavanagh, Fred Gerlich, Phil Glende, David and Beth Hertz, Kerry Clawson and Athena Forrest.

The impressive list of Pulitzers for the BJ:

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: Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing for John S. Knight, for a selection of his Editor’s Notebook weekly columns, largely opposing the Vietnam War and defending the public’s right to protest.

1971: Pulitzer Prize for General Local Reporting for coverage of the National Guard shootings that killed four students and wounded nine at Kent State University on May 4, 1970.

1987: Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting for “The Goodyear War.” The greenmail attack led by Sir James Goldsmith was costly to Goodyear and the Akron economy.

1994: Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for “A Question of Color,” a series that urged readers to examine and discuss race relations, attitudes and how race plays a part in housing, crime, business and education. It led to the formation of Coming Together, an organization that promoted racial harmony and cultural awareness.

 

 

 



Webb Shaw passes away

Former BJ newsroom editor Webb Shaw passed away January 3 in Wisconsin. His widow is Katie Gaab-Shaw.

Jane Gaab Scott, Katie’s sister, is married to former BJ editor Dave Scott. They live in Copley.

Webb’s father, the late Ohio native and Fremont (Ohio) Ross High football star Bob Shaw, was an all-American end on Ohio State’s 1942 national championship team coached by the legendary Paul Brown, who eventually guided the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL.

Later Bob Shaw was a tight end with the 1949 Los Angeles Rams and was receivers coach with the Baltimore Colts in 1958 when they beat the New York Giants to win the NFL championship in what has been called "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

Webb’s obituary:

Webb A. Shaw, 66 years, passed away peacefully at home on January 3rd, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was born on July 25, 1951 to Robert and Mary Shaw in Calgary, Alberta.

 

Webb graduated from Northwestern University with a Master’s Degree in Journalism.

 

He married the love of his life, Catherine Shaw (Gaab), in Peninsula, Ohio. They started their family in Ohio and moved to Appleton, Wisconsin in 1992, when Webb began a successful career at J.J. Keller & Associates. Webb retired from J.J. Keller in January 2015 as Vice President of Editorial Resources. He greatly enjoyed working with his colleagues at Keller and serving on the national Software and Information Industry Association’s Content Division Board.

Webb was active in his community. He served on the Town of Caledonia Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee, and he served for 10 years on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Board of Directors. He was proud of his involvement in the International Torch Association. Webb enjoyed sharing meals and conversation with his family and friends. He was an avid reader and wordsmith, and he loved boating, traveling, and football.

Words cannot express how much Webb will be missed by his wife Katie Shaw, daughter Lindsay Davis (Dave) of Saint Paul, Minnesota, son-in-law Steve Sheets of Kiel, Wisconsin, grandchildren Ty and Dominick Sheets and Clara Davis, a sister Amy (Steve Hayes) Shaw and nephew Dakota. Webb was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Shaw, and his beloved daughter, Dr. Erica Sheets.


A Memorial Service for Webb will take place on Saturday, January 13th, 2018 at 11AM at Wichmann-Fargo Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior Street, Appleton, with visitation from 9-11AM. Fr. John Braverman celebrant. Private interment in Ohio.


In lieu of flowers please donate in tribute to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (www.michaeljfox.org ).

Webb’s family thanks the St. Paul Hospice Team and Webb’s extended family, friends, and neighbors for their kind support and care.

 

Another father and son moment for David & Tom Giffels in their touring in final months

David Giffels’ father passes away

Bath resident Tom Giffels, father of former BJ columnist and author David Giffels, passed away Friday, January 5.

Tom was featured prominently in Dave’s latest book, “Furnishing Eternity,” published January 2.

David and Tom worked on dad’s coffin for several years. And had an ad hoc philosophy discussion.

David wrote:

“I've been overwhelmed, in the good way, by all the kind wishes and condolences expressed here. My dad had a magical final year. We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge together on his 85th birthday in March. He enjoyed a wonderful family vacation on Lake Michigan in July. He cooked a turkey for our family's Thanksgiving dinner.

“He passed peacefully on Friday, right around happy hour. I think he wanted to spend the weekend in heaven. Near the end, he said he wasn't sad about dying, only about the fact that other people will be sad. So I choose to mourn him with joy.”

Dave and five centuries of BJ experience left at the same time in 2008.

Tom’s funeral arrangements are pending.