Abe Zaidan, former BJ political columnist and writing coach, passed away Monday, April 26.
Son Mark Zaidan posted on Facebook:
“It is with a great deal of sadness that I share the passing of my father, Abe Zaidan. He died peacefully in his sleep. My mom, my brother and I are making all necessary arrangements. At this time we are not planning to have calling hours. We deeply appreciate the love and support of our friends and family during this difficult time."
University of Illinois and tiny Ramsay High School in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania graduate Abe lived in Fairlawn with wife Nancy. I frequently saw Abe at BJ monthly gatherings at Papa Joe’s in the Merriman Valley.
Abe’s desk was 20 feet from the office of John S. Knight, the best newspaper owner in American history.
Abe had two proudly liberal blogs, Grumpy Abe and Plunderbund, which the dictionary describes as a a corrupt alliance of political, commercial and financial interests engaged in exploiting the public, which is a national malady in America.
The late State Desk legend, Harry Liggett, once posted on this blog: “If you type the word ‘Zaidan’ in the Ohio.com search box, you are asked the question, ‘Did you mean Satan?’ “ Who knew that Google was a right-winger?
It was painful to be the target of Abe’s wit, as former University of Akron president Scott Scarborough knows. After Abe skewered Scarborough about spending $1 million to spruce up for his personal castle, including a master suite for SS’s in-laws, Scarborough was booted out of his expensive re-do home permanently.
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kasich, who vowed to eliminate the state income tax, got a withering $12 billion zinger from Abe: Where will that money over 10 years come from? Kasich’s lieutentant governor running mate was State Auditor Mary Taylor. Abe’s final arrow: Another John McCain-Sarah Palin debacle.
Even the BJ was not safe. Abe ripped into his former employer for giving Republican Congressional candidate the top half of the front page with Ganley’s Toyota auto dealership getting a flattering and free-ad photo.
Theoretically, the story was about auto sales in the Akron area improving. Abe saw it as a free campaign contribution against Ganley’s opponent, Betty Sutton, seeking re-election to her 13th Congressional district seat.
Abe saved his best salvo for last: “Former State Desk Editor Pat Englehart must be spinning in his grave.” Pat, like Abe, didn’t suffer fools gladly. Since both are no longer with us, Heaven help St. Peter! The Pearly Gates will be rolling rocking with those two going at it!
The BJ got another whip-lashing from Abe’s typing
fingers when Ted Gup, former BJ reporter and investigative reporter for the
hallowed Washington Post and Time Magazine, spoke at the Akron Press Club and
the BJ didn’t print a word about it.
Abe’s ready-aim-fire: “It disappoints me, and I'm sure many others, to see people like Ted Gup ignored by the town's only daily newspaper. What's wrong with this picture?”
Abe identified himself as “a minor role player in the BJ’s greatness.” That’s a bit modest, Abe.
Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart got an arrow into his butt, too from Abe. Republican Robart took the usual shot at Democrats for bailing out automakers.
Abe grumpily and wittily wondered why Robart didn’t complain about all the federal money he embraced joyfully that propped up many Falls ventures.
The PD didn’t dodge the Abe bullets either. When the Cleveland product out-shone by the BJ in those days published a 40-minute video of the PD editorial board interview of Governor Kasich, Democratic candidate Ed Fitzgerald and Green Party candidate Anita Rios which PD honchos removed, Abe ran a short clip of the group political huddle.
The PD responded by threatening to sue Abe, a favorite piss-on-the-First-Amendment bullying tactic of companies with highly paid attorneys vs. individuals who can’t afford the lawsuit fees.
I know from personal experience when slap-suit threats were aimed at me. I don’t bow easily, though. Neither did Abe. Kindred spirits, we.
Abe’s penetrating writing also was used to defend. When the PD muzzled Don Rosenberg, its music critic and former BJ music critic, with a demotion for daring to not kiss the feet of the Cleveland Orchestra, Abe used his assessment of the New York Times expose of the classless action with: “Don was an astute, sensitive and dedicated workaholic” and “the mighty PD serves masters outside the newsroom.”
Followed by: “We hope that this dark event will not be another Cleveland joke around the country.”
Zing went the tart-strings!
The late BJ Features editor/pet columnist Connie Bloom, a self-described “activist and artist” (a legend in fabric art in Ohio; I have a Connie art fabric in my kitchen/dining room hallway), scored a bulls-eye when she wrote:
“Wit and wisdom from Abe is always a romp.”
When the irascible and self-described “socialist” reporter Terry Oblander passed away, Abe’s tribute obit called “The Dutchman” “a very good - and honorable - reporter who was happily dedicated in his work.”
In 2007 Abe and John Green, director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, wrote “Portraits of Power: Ohio and National Politics, 1964-2004.”
Abe was a long-friend and co-worker with the late Dave Hess, who spent time in the Knight conglomerate’s Washington bureau and was elected president of the National Press Club.
Now Abe and Dave can play poker in Heaven. Abe wrote a loving and humorous obit tribute to Dave’s ineptness in poker on this blog years ago.
Abe’s passing reminds me again why we called it The Good Ol’ Days at the BJ. Because they where, with talent like Abe, Dave, Terry and Pat around and JSK protecting us from would-be powerful detractors.
No wonder I ran to work every day of my 26 years at the BJ. If I could afford it I would have paid John Knight and Ben Maidenburg to work there. It was the most exciting time in my 43-year journalism career.
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