Conservative columnist Robert Novak dies

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 in Washington early Tuesday morning after a battle with brain cancer.

“He was someone who loved being a journalist, loved 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 odd couple: Evans a Philadelphia blue blood and Yale graduate; Novak from Joliet, Ill., who attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

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. His first newspaper jobs were with the Joliet Herald-News and, while a student at the University of Illinois, the Champaign-Urbana Courier.

Geraldine Novak said her husband passed away at 4:30 a.m., returning home after being hospitalized July 10-24. Novak’s malignant brain tumor was discovered in July 2008.

“Bob was always the pro,” Sun-Times editor in chief Don Hayner said. “No matter what he had going on, he was always at the ready to help out on stories, and he broke more than his share. Even as he became a national figure, he was always proud to be part of the Sun-Times. And we were proud of him.”

Besides his wife, survivors include a son Alex, 41, who’s a marketing executive for Eagle Publishing; and a daughter, Zelda, 44, who is married to the journalist Christopher Caldwell; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will take place at St. Patrick’s in the City Catholic Church, 619 Tenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday. A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s in the City. Interment will be private.

Click here for the Chicago Sun-Times story.
The family asked that any memorial contributions be made to the Youth Leadership Foundation, 4101 Yuma Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016 or the Children¹s Charities Foundation, 3000 K Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20007-5109.

WASHINGTON POST: Longtime conservative columnist dies at 78