Osborn Elliott, 1924-2008

During the first week of classes at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, I was standing near the door of a crowded elevator in the J-school building. I decided to tell my roommate a silly joke: How many editors does it take to change a light bulb? Just then, a magisterial baritone boomed from the back: "No, how many editors does it take?"

Since Oz had just spoken during an orientation session, I knew exactly who was asking. I feared that I was about to offend one of the most important figures in American journalism -- and classes hadn't even started.

I continued with the punchline: "A hundred. One to put it in, one to take it out, one to put it in..."

He laughed louder than anybody else in the elevator and I realized I hadn't sabotaged my nascent career.

His vision, talent, class and sense of humor stand as examples for all of us.

Edmund Tijerina
San Antonio, Texas
Columbia '91

If we are lucky there are times when experience, opportunity and inspiration actually do give life riches. Mine came in the summer of 1997 when Oz hired me to work for the Citizens Committee for New York City. At 73 he was no less engaged, no less energetic and no less committed to civic activism than his long credentials espouse. He was always present, giving New York City notables from diplomats to financiers, entertainers to journalists reason to believe in the power of grassroots engagement in urban issues. He also edited my every word, dispatched me to write more and better than I???d ever attempted. He inspired a series of books on the neighborhoods of New York City; he edited every word in The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Yale University Press, 1998. We touched more than 400 New York City neighborhoods in those three years of his ???retirement??? - at grassroots award ceremonies, parades, city-wide fund-raisers, ribbon cuttings for neighborhood gardens in the name of his friend Molly Parnis. Though the job was exhausting and frustrating in its many politics and divergent constituencies and in the standard Oz set in an inherently cash-challenged endeavor, I am rich from his vision ??? even for so brief a sojourn.

Though far short of the exquisitely brief words and good will you contributed to my scant archive of accomplishments, this is my ???Thank You,??? Osborn Elliott.

Zella Jones
New York City

If we are lucky there are times when experience, opportunity and inspiration actually do give life riches. Mine came in the summer of 1997 when Oz hired me to work for the Citizens Committee for New York City. At 73 he was no less engaged, no less energetic and no less committed to civic activism than his long credentials espouse. He was always present, giving New York City notables from diplomats to financiers, entertainers to journalists reason to believe in the power of grassroots engagement in urban issues. He also edited my every word, dispatched me to write more and better than I???d ever attempted. He inspired a series of books on the neighborhoods of New York; he edited every word in The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Yale University Press, 1998. We touched more than 400 New York City neighborhoods in those three years of his ???retirement??? at grassroots award ceremonies, parades, city-wide fund-raisers, ribbon cuttings for neighborhood gardens in the name of his friend Molly Parnis. Though the job was exhausting and frustrating in its many politics and divergent constituencies and in the standard Oz set in an inherently cash-challenged endeavor, I am rich from his vision ??? even for so brief a sojourn.

Though far short of the exquisitely brief words and good will you contributed to my scant archive of accomplishments, this is my ???Thank You,??? Osborn Elliott.

Zella Jones
New York City

As a third world youngster who got into journalism without formal journlaism education, I had to turn to first world newspapers and magazines to see how they treated issues relating to ordinary citizens as well as rural and urban development. My brother-in-law being a custom officer working at the airport, he always brought home copies of Newsweek and reading through them I quickly fell in love with the writings of Oz Elliot, Samuelson, Edward Berh, Zbigniew Brewinski and others. About forty years on, I now own a newspaper and write a regular column, thanks to the light I got from reading Elliot and others on Newsweek. Goodbye grand icon.

I love you, Oz. You were a delight like few others, so serious and so very funny. Those of us who had the honor of spending time with you learned so much! What a rich, full and wonderful life you lived. My thoughts are with your family.

William Noland