Today we remember TNG-CWA members who have died since the 2023 Sector Conference. We are grateful for their dedication to workers’ rights, their devotion to our crafts, and their leadership. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to their friends and family.
Frederick W. Hanson
Fred Hanson, the longtime president of the Patriot Ledger Newsroom Association in Quincy, Mass, died April 8, 2024. He collapsed on his way into Braintree Town Hall to cover a school committee meeting. He was 67.
At 6’6”, Fred was literally a towering figure in the world of local news reporting. He worked at the Patriot Ledger newspaper for 43 years, covering hundreds of local government meetings and community forums throughout the South Shore of Massachusetts.
“I don’t think there’s a town on the South Shore that he didn’t cover at one point,” Linda Shepherd, a former Ledger editor, told the Boston Globe for a story about Hanson’s sudden death. “The news was his purpose – it was his life.”
As president of the union representing editorial workers, Hanson steered the membership through the transition from print to digital publishing, as well as several ownership changes. He did all with the trust and confidence of his members. He also represented the union at TNG sector conferences.
“Fred was a consummate unionist,’” said Scott Steeves, president of the Boston Newspaper Guild Local 31245, his longtime friend. “His passion for helping his fellow Guild members was only matched by his passion for journalism. Affectionately known as ‘Big Fred,’ he is quoted often and missed daily. He was truly one of a kind.”
Hanson, one of 13 children, graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Mass. in 1974 and earned a degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 1978. Along with the news, Hanson loved reading, history and rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays. But never when they played against the Red Sox.
Carol Przybyszewski
October 31, 1951 – November 6, 2024
Carol worked at the Erie Times News for 41 years, developing her reputation as a skilled advertising salesperson and prominent member of the community. Throughout that time, Carol served the Erie Newspaper Guild in a variety of roles.
A longtime member of the Guild’s Executive Committee, Carol was also elected secretary, treasurer and president of the local and served on numerous contract negotiation committees, where she insisted advertising sales incentive plans be included in the Guild contract.
In addition to representing local members, Carol was also the vice president of Region 3 of The NewsGuild-CWA and served as an officer of the union’s Great Lakes District Council for many years.
Kiah Danielle Duggins
September 16, 1994 – January 29, 2025
Kiah Duggins, an attorney at the Civil Rights Corps, died on American Airlines flight 5342 that crashed into the Potomac River in Washington D.C. in a mid-air collision with a military helicopter. She was 30.
She was one of 67 people killed in the crash. She was a member of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035. “Kiah was a fierce advocate for her colleagues at the Civil Rights Corps., where she held management to account,” the local wrote after her death.
She grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and earned an undergraduate degree from Wichita State University. She went on to study at Harvard Law School, where she was a member of the Harvard Black Law Students Association. She was also president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, providing help to families facing eviction during the pandemic. “Kiah led us all with her grace, her brilliance and her wonderful laugh,” Eloise Lawrence, the bureau’s acting faculty director told Harvard Law Today.
At her 2021 graduation, Duggins was recognized with a Clinical and Pro Bono Outstanding Student Award. “I had the great fortune of serving as Kiah’s direct supervisor in her clinical work. I observed her unfailing work ethic, her talent as a writer, thinker, and oral advocate. In short, she was an absolutely superb student attorney,” Lawrence said.
After graduating, Duggins worked at the ACLU of Northern California and the firm Neufeld, Scheck & Brustin. At the time of her death, she was an attorney at the Civil Rights Corps, a nonprofit dedicated to challenging systemic injustice.
Ross Simpson
Oct. 18, 1942-March 5, 2025
Ross Simpson, a longtime radio anchor and reporter, most recently for DC News Now, died March 5, 2025. He was 82.
His career spanned more than five decades, beginning in 1961 while he was serving in the US Air Force. He later became well-known on the DC biggest national stories of the moment. He was particularly adept at reporting on war and disaster coverage.
His work with Mutual Broadcasting, NBC Radio and the Associated Press earned multiple honors, including two Edward R. Murrow Awards and a Gold Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
“Ross’s colleagues and friends remember him for his professional achievements, kindness and generosity,” his obituary stated. “His storytelling left a lasting impact on those privileged to work alongside him.”
William Salisbury
A legendary political reporter in Minnesota, Bill Salisbury died on June 23, 2025, one day after he turned 80.
It could be said that he was a born reporter. His father was the editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper in his hometown of Belgrade. He graduated from the University of Minnesota and soon embarked on his own distinct journalism career.
Bill worked as a political reporter for the Pioneer Press starting in the 1970s. He covered numerous legislative sessions, governors, campaigns and conventions. He spent five years, from 1994 to 1999, in the paper’s bureau in Washington D.C.
He then returned to his familiar beat at the state Capitol, where in his later years, he was known as the “dean” of the political reporters. He retired in 2015, but continued as a part-time contributor for the paper.
Tributes to Bill, whose wife and daughter pre-deceased him, poured in from all levels of government. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty called him a pro “in the true sense of the word. He was committed to the mastery of his craft while being decent and fair along the way.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said “Bill Salisbury’s byline was synonymous with accuracy and integrity. By keeping the public informed, Bill made our democracy stronger. When he interviewed me, I always knew his story would be fair & informative. I respected him greatly and will miss him.”
William James Polo II
Bill Polo, a retired photographer at the Boston Herald and Boston Globe, died July 24, 2025. He was 73. In his career, Polo also shot photographs for the Associated Press, Getty Images, Sports Illustrated and the West Roxbury Transcript. He was a longtime member of the Boston Press Photographers Association.
Stephen P. Morse
Sept. 22, 1948-Nov. 2, 2025
When Steve Morse retired from the Boston Globe as its celebrated rock critic in 2005, Bono stopped by his retirement party at a local bar. The U2 frontman had just stepped off the stage from a concert at TD Garden and he wanted to “toast and praise [Morse’s] work,” the Globe wrote in Morse’s obituary.
Morse was 76 when he died Nov. 2 from cancer diagnosed just two weeks before. His survivors included his adult disabled son, Nicholas, an artist.
For 27 years, Morse was the Globe’s chief rock critic. He attended an estimated 250 live performances each year. At 6’5”, Morse stood out in the crowd. “Everyone has a Steve Morse story because he was omnipresent for us,” Peter Wolf, the lead singer of the J. Geils Band, told the Globe at the time of Morse’s passing.
James H. Orcutt
1940 – Jan. 22, 2024
At 17, Jim Orcutt dropped out of high school in Weymouth, Mass., and forged his mother’s name on paperwork so he could join the US Navy. It was the start of his long career of service to others.
After four years, he returned home and went to work at The Enterprise newspaper in Brockton. There, he became a local union rep, the first step on a long career with the Guild. He later worked as a representative for The Newspaper Guild International.
“When he worked as a rep, his whole existence was making sure that the workers were taken care of,” Terry Orcutt, his wife of 53 years, told The Enterprise at the time of Jim’s death.
Jim and Terry later would go on to a new form of justice and advocacy. Relying on their deep Catholic faith, the couple in 1988 founded My Brother’s Keeper, a nonprofit that delivered furniture, food and Christmas gifts to those in need. The charity that started in the basement of the couple’s home now has a staff of 20, 12 delivery vans, two distribution centers and has made more than 225,000 deliveries.
Otlida Byrne
January 26, 1926 – February 15, 2025
She started her career working at Mead Johnson in Evansville, Ind. until the family moved to Illinois where she worked at the Metro East Journal as an advertising sales agent for 25 years. She was the secretary of the Newspaper Guild Union.
Tillie then worked with the Ainad Shriners, supporting the circus and membership groups until her retirement. Once retired from outside work, she took up the amazing job of caring for her grandchildren. She was an extremely devout grandmother and poured out unconditional love.
She went on many field trips, including City Museum in her 80s, climbing in all the tunnels after her grandchildren.
Patricia A. Kissell
July 30, 1935 – January 10, 2025
Patricia brought passion and devotion to her personal and professional lives. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a business degree, she worked for 45 years at the Manchester Union Leader newspaper.
She served as payroll manager for New Hampshire’s only statewide newspaper. She was respected for her professionalism and leadership. Her devotion to her colleagues led to her election as president of The Newspaper Guild/TNG-CWA Local 31167, a role for which she was deeply respected.
In her spare time, Patricia pursued her passion for art. She was renowned for her work in mixed-media “particularly her expressive and soulful paintings,” her obituary said. “Her art, much like her life, was an embodiment of creativity, grace and passion.”
Karen Wilson Willette
Karen was 72 years old when she died on Aug. 7, 2023, four years after retiring from a career in local advertising for Massachusetts newspapers. “Karen loved newspapers, was a proud veteran of old-time newspaper advertising,” her obituary stated.
Karen was an account executive at the Waltham News Tribune, the Hyde Park Tribune, and Enterprise Publishing, which produced the Enterprise in Brockton. She worked at the Enterprise for over 20 years, during which she served as secretary of TNG-CWA Local 31041. She negotiated “with the best of them,” her obituary said. “She was a wellspring of kindness and compassion.”
K. Louise MacGillvray
Katherine Louise MacGillvray was 92 when she died Oct. 11, 2023 in Barrington, R.I.
Known by her middle name, MacGillvray worked as an inside classified sales representative at the Providence Journal-Bulletin.
In retirement, she and her husband were active in St. Luke’s Parish in Barrington, and the Brown Community for Learning in Retirement Program. Louise also was active with the Hameho Garden Club “writing a regular column for its newsletter,” her obituary said.
Shirley Utterback
Nov. 14, 1925-Nov. 24, 2024
Shirley died at age 99 at her home in West Kingstown, R.I., with her family at her side. Her love for newspapers began during her childhood in Seattle. As editor of her high school paper, Shirley accomplished a feat many career journalists could only dream of: she interviewed the-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was in Seattle to visit family.
“High school editors were invited to a special news conference with Mrs. Roosevelt,” Shirley’s obituary stated.
Shirley majored in journalism at the University of Washington, where she met her husband. They fell in love, married and soon moved east. She continued her education at the University of Rhode Island, graduating in 1975 with an English degree.
She worked for 18 years as a news assistant in the East Bay bureau of the Providence Journal. She was a member of TNG-CWA Local 31041. She wrote a daily events column, a library column, news items, obituaries “and several freelance columns for the newspaper over the years,” her obituary said.
Louis “Louie” G. Najac Jr.
March 27, 1937-January 5, 2025
A union man for most of his life, Louie was 87 when he died in West Warwick, R.I. with his family by his side.
For 41 years, he worked at The Providence Journal, where he was a member of TNG-CWA Local 31041. He also worked at Lincoln Downs/Lincoln Park, a horse racing and amusement park, for 30 years, where he was a member of Service Employees Union Local 40.
Lynne Christine Dennis
1950 – December 2, 2024
Lynne’s newspaper career started after attending University of California-Davis and Sacramento State University. She worked briefly as an elementary school teacher, before changing careers.
She worked as a copy editor and page designer at a number of California newspapers, including the Maysville-Appeal Democrat, the Oakland Tribune and finally, the San Jose Mercury News.
Lynne served as president of the San Jose Newspaper Guild Local 98 for a period, prior to her retirement in 2005. In her retirement, she continued her service to others. She was a dedicated tutor with the Alameda Reads project, helping ESL adults perfect their English. She was involved in the Alameda Democratic Club for many years, and worked on multiple state-level conventions and candidate campaigns.
John Funiciello
1938 – 2024
After his return, he spent some years working for smaller local newspapers, eventually taking a job as a newspaper reporter at the Times Union. He also became the President of his local. He then spent several decades working as a Media Coordinator for AFSCME/CSEA before retiring. But John always said that his “real work” started after hours with his brothers and sisters in The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District which John founded in 1983, along with a handful of fellow workers in support of the striking Greyhound bus drivers. Solidarity has since supported workers and raised funds and been on picket lines in places all over the US and Canada.
John J. Clarke
April 22, 1925 – August 28, 2015
He was a former president of Newspaper Guild Scranton Local 177. In the 1990s, he was writing and editing coach for the Times.
John “Mike” Sweeney
April 10, 1944 – June 1, 2024
He returned to the Twin Cities to work at the Pioneer Press where he spent the next 22 years as a journalist, editor, and newspaper guild steward. His specialty was covering crime and the court system. He went on to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Twin Cities Newspaper Guild until his retirement in 2006. In retirement, Mike partnered with his close friend and renowned novelist John Camp to write a book loosely based on a story he wrote years prior for the Pioneer Press.
Richard E. Agajanian
1952 – May 22, 2024
Rick’s creativity shined through his work as a writer, newspaper editor and photographer. He started his career with the Providence Visitor and the Warwick Beacon. He spent most of his time at the Worcester Telegram where he also served as President of the Providence Newspaper Guild. He was an avid tech enthusiast and loved his gadgets embracing new and old technology.
Dena F. Bunis
1954 – March 12, 2024
With a journalism degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, Dena was a fierce advocate for newsroom workers, holding leadership roles in the Rochester (NY) Newspaper Guild in the ’80s, and later in Newsday’s union. She was also a board member of the National Press Club Foundation and its Journalism Institute.
Guy D. Nadeau
Oct. 19, 2023
Mr. Nadeau was a general assignment reporter and sportswriter, first with the Lewiston Sun Journal and later with the Union Leader in Manchester, N.H., where he also served as Vice President of Local 167, the Newspaper Guild.
Robert Lane
June 18, 1933 – April 7, 2025
As a reporter for the Tacoma News Tribune, Bob covered the police beat and courts. He had a column for many years, “Sidewalks,” reflecting on life in Tacoma. He served as a union steward at the TNT, representing members of the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild.
Joyce Irene Link Evans
November 5, 1934 – March 25, 2025
She started her journalism career as a “copy girl” at the Lima News, later working up to cub reporter. At that time, she was a member of Local 166, American Newspaper Guild, and she was elected to represent the organization as a delegate to San Jose, CA, and the New York convention of the organization’s international guild. At the New York convention, she was named Recording Secretary of the guilds Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana Council. She was one of a group who helped organize and staff the now defunct Lima Citizen Newspaper where she was general assignment reporter, religion editor and associate women’s editor, working with the legendary Hope Strong. During her career, she received first place awards for her feature writing.
Sureva Towler
September 22, 1932 – March 5, 2025
Sureva wrote nine books, countless newspaper columns, and award-winning essays. She worked as a county administrator, grant writer, publisher, and plumber’s wife, turning her experiences into material for The Steamboat Pilot, The Denver Post, and her most awarded book, The Boys at the Bar. Her writing earned recognition from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Denver Newspaper Guild, Colorado Authors League, and Colorado Historical Foundation.
Selwyn Raab
June 26, 1934 – March 4, 2025
Mr. Raab received many honors across the years, including the Heywood Broun Award from the New York Newspaper Guild and an Emmy for his work on “The 51st State,” a WNET program that dealt with New York City issues and on which he was a reporter and an executive producer for three years before moving to The Times.
Sarah Yelena Haselhorst
1993 – October 5, 2024
Sarah’s name has been on the top of stories in The Island Packet for more than two years and, before that, in newspapers in Mississippi, Ohio and her native Missouri. In the Lowcountry, she focused on weather, nature and climate issues, but she also covered health and medical news, breaking news and general assignments.
Robert R. Gajoli
June 24, 1929 – October 14, 2024
Robert R. Gajoli, age 95, the former Fall River Herald News staff reporter who served as Fall River unit chairman of the Greater Boston Newspaper Guild in the 1970s died on Monday, October 14, 2024 in the Brockton VA Medical Center. He started at The Herald News in 1963 covering general assignments. Robert left the paper and returned two years later to cover crime and the courts. He was appointed by The Newspaper Guild to its top position in Fall River and the collective bargaining committee after a three-month-long labor strike ended at the paper in 1971.
William F. Noonan
1938 – August 30, 2024
Bill was born in Queens, NY, son of the late Mary (Morrissey) and William F. Noonan Sr. Bill went on to work as a Circulation Inspector for the Long Island Press, Star Journal and finally the New York Post where he was named Unit Chairman of the Newspaper Guild. Upon leaving the Post, he became a Security Supervisor and Driver for the Kaufman Astoria Studios until his retirement. In his free time, Bill loved spending time with his friends and family. In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his former wife and mother of his children, Patricia and his wife Marilyn.
Wayne Zimmerman
1932 – August 20, 2024
He was very proud of the fact that as a union negotiator for the Newspaper Guild, in the 1970s he secured four weeks paid vacation for all News Tribune employees after one year of employment. Wayne utilized his talents enthusiastically in his personal life.
Bernard G. Fabiano
1948 – November 19, 2024
Bernie was a member of Mt. Vernon Country Club and news letter editor for the Colorado Camaro Club. He also belonged to the Newspaper Guild and American Legion.
Geri Joseph
June 19, 1923 – October 16, 2023
Geri was a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Journalism in 1946. She was one of the first women to be hired as an editor of the university newspaper, The Minnesota Daily. She worked as a staff writer at the Minneapolis Tribune from 1946 to until March 1953. Specializing in health, education and welfare reporting she won five American Newspaper Guild Awards.
Aaron Epstein, 38010
Adam Pemble, 31222
Amelia Lawton , 38010
Andre Deolivares, 31222
Anne O’Brien, 38010
Arnold Clark, 38010
Bill Salisbury, 37002
Burl “Wiggy” Gilyard, 37002
Burl Gilyard, 37002
Carlos Sutton, 32035
Carole Jackson, 38010
Carter Love, member, 31003
Charles Chamberlin, 38010
Charles Petzold, 38010
Charlie Tobias, 39521
Clarice Maue, 31222
Colleen Maurer, 38010
David Bond Jr, 38010
David Schemelia, 31222
Dennis Georgatos, 31222
Dianne Thaggard, 38010
Donald Barlett, 38010
Donald Treat, 31180
Donna Lucas, 37002
Dorothy Brown, 38010
Douglas Kahn, 31003
Drusilla Tuck, 38010
Eileen Rullo, 38010
Elaine Tait, 38010
Elise Amendola, 31222
Elizabeth Esko, 38010
Elizabeth Gillin, 38010
Esther Thoroughgood, 38010
Eugene Jackson, 31222
Francis Gradel, 38010
Gail Nussbaum Kaplan, 31003
Gary Carrizales, 37002
Gary Stewart, 31222
George Beran, 37002
George Gedda, 31222
George Ross, 31041
George Widman, 31222
Gerald Nadler, 31222
Gerald Pettit, 38010
Gloria Markward, 38010
Iain Morrison, 31003
Ivy Gormican, 31222
Jack Smith, 31222
James Cour, 31222
James Klahn, 31222
James Landberg, 37002
Jane Swartz, 38010
Jennifer Bjorhus, 37002
Jennifer Bjorhus, 37002
Jeremy Paulson, 37002
Jerry Fearing, 37002
Jim Caple, 37002
Joan Kanes, 38010
Joan Lowy, 31222
John Celestino, 38010
John Doman, 37002
John Dunlap, 38010
John Funicello, 31034
John Schmidt, 31222
John Schweitzer, 37002
Juan Ramón Guzman, 33225
Judy Brunswick, 37002
Julia Martinez, 38010
Kenneth Kusmer, 31222
Kenneth Lockerby, 38010
Lacy Williebelle, 38010
Laura Marmor, member, 31003
Lawrence Knutson, 31222
Lenore Siemsen, 37002
Linda Deutsch, 31222
Linda Lockhart, 37002
Lowell Toenniessen, 38010
Lynn Ludlow, 39521
Margaret Patrizzi, 38010
Marie Holmes, 38010
Mark Seidl, 37002
Marlene Robinson, 38010
Marty Jackson, 37002
Marty Jackson, 37002
Mary Koch , 38010
Maureen Meehan , 38010
Michael Rathet, 38010
Mike Kaszuba, 37002
Mike Sweeney, 37002
Morton Mintz, 32035
Nancy James (aka Pirsig), 37002
Nancy Shuler, 38010
Nelson Lampe, 31222
Parry Lance, 38010
Paul Driscoll, 31222
Paul Raeburn, 31222
Phil Harvey, 37002
Phyllis Schuster, 37002
Rayner Pike, 31222
Richard Maerz, 38010
Richelle Newby, 31003
Robert Greenberg, 38010
Robert Samsot, 38010
Robert Wise, 38010
Robin Smith, 38010
Ronald Edmonds, 31222
Rosemary Camilari, 38010
Rubén Rosario, 37002
Salvatore Cappello, 38010
Sara Acker , 38010
Scott Miller, 37002
Stephen Pogust, 38010
Steven Hurst, 31222
Teresa Carr, 38010
Thomas Carmichael, 38010
Thomas Watson, 31222
Virginia Micke, 38010
Walter Shapiro, 31003
Wayne Dosser, 37002
William Eddins, 38010
William Lester, 31222
William Mayer, 38010
Woodrow Baird, 31222