Peter Weiss
My old friend, Peter Weiss, the political columnist for The Jersey Jourmal in Jersey City, N.J., died over the weekend. How shocking and sad. He couldn't have been more than 60, I don't think.
I had the privilege of serving a few years as a reporter at "The JJ," as it's known, 30 years ago. And on a quite a few days I found myself at the desk next to Peter's. He was the best co-worker one could ever ask for -- generous, thoughtful, brilliant, kind, and hilarious. His smile is forever etched on my memory.
My condolences to all my former colleagues, who I am sure will miss him deeply.
| Posted at 7:07 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (6)
Warren William Zevon
1947 ~ 2003
Well, Warren's gone.
Not like we didn't expect it. Diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2002 and given 3 months to live. He held on for 12.
While Springsteen is Jack's boy, Zevon was mine. In high school he (and Zappa) was suggested to me, by the book buyer at the college bookstore, as someone who would fit well with my personality (still not sure how I should take that). I went out and got a cassette of his greatest hits not quiet knowing what to expect. I was just stunned. It was the well crafted, original, intelligent and funny. I played that tape for years, until my tape player got thrown out.
I saw him on Letterman in October (back when Warren’s goal was to live long enough to see the new James Bond, which had a nice line about Warren in it.). It was sad. His lung capacity had deteriorated to the point that he could barely make it through a song. Even then his voice was a not much more than a whisper.
I should run off to see if Dave has anything to say about him on tonight's show. I should also dig up that old Larry Sanders episode with him and see if the library has his last album, "The Wind."
I’ll miss him, as I sit here in the MP3-era, listening to that Best Of album, now on my computer. If one good thing came out of this, my wife is a fan.
Well, he has plenty of time to sleep now. Someday we all will.
Posted by Excitable_Boy | September 9, 2003 12:31 AM
Sorry, to hijack your blog for that.
Posted by Excitable_Boy | September 9, 2003 12:42 AM
No problem. It's a sad time on a number of fronts, and I may have attempted a Zevon post myself over the next day or so.
I admired Warren all along. You knew you were dealing with a genius when he sang about seeing "a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's," adding the key observation:
"His hair was perfect."
Posted by Jack Bog | September 9, 2003 12:53 AM
A sad day indeed. The man could write a song.
"I'm hiding in Honduras
I'm a desparate man
Send lawyers, guns, and money
The shit has hit the fan"
I'll miss him.
Posted by freak | September 9, 2003 5:40 PM
Thank you for memorializing Peter Weiss, I too was shocked and deeply saddened. I was a JJ stringer for 8 years under him and he was a great person.
I can't think of too many bosses I've had in my life that I would cry over upon their passing, but I most certainly did for Peter.
He will be missed.
Posted by Bill Peña | September 10, 2003 2:12 PM
I just came upon your obituary of Peter Weiss and was shocked to hear the news. I was married to Peter from 1968 to 1975. He was the kindest man I've ever known. Do you know how I could contact his wife (Kathleen?).
Posted by Sydney Goldenberg | December 15, 2003 1:05 PM