Page 107 - Big Rob News Today

Say he was a great story teller who was often drawn to quirky stories, but seriously committed to both reporting and helping shape young journalists. rob stood 65" and was affectionately called big rob. >> immense presence and not just because of his size. because of the warmth that he brought to every room and every situation. and this will probably never heal for all of us. >> reporter: rob once wrote a description of his ideal job, i would like to be paid for the occasional amusing remark or ...

>> yes, yes. and you know, rob was a natural observer and a natural human in that he got humanity, he realized this big world is fouled up and full of all kinds of mayhem and pressure. and you cant be a journalist and not see that. he understood that the key to success of a human being and certainly the key to success as a journalist is to remember your humanity, to remember peoples feelings, to look for the human being behind the story. im sorry i laughed, there was a time here we both worked a...

Rob hiaasen was my best friend and he was that for a handful of others. he and i liked to say, you dont need a million friends just really good ones. and he was always there for people. and a confidant when folks needed it, and someone ready with the wry little joke at just the right time. typically and ironically at a time like this, when people were together hurting over something. and he understood the need that eventually he did need that break. and he liked to say its a fine line between dr...

The reporter on the right. working in the hours after the attack into the night vowing to publish the paper this morning and they did. the opinion page a9 nearly blank. today we are speechless. the page is left blank to remember victims of thursdays shooting. then the names of the five victims. editorial writer gerald fischman, 61, known for his wit and wicked pen. editor robert hiaasen, 59. he just celebrated his 33rd wedding anniversary. nicknamed big rob. he was 65". his wife describing him a...

Them. and so, this is -- you know, rob never thought of it as heroic. he thought of it as a civic duty, as a responsibility in a functioning democracy. but he was just this big, generous, gentle guy, and gifted, such a gifted writer and editor, as those who worked with him will tell you or have told you. >> weve heard a lot of mention made of him being big rob because he was tall, but that it was about much more than his height, that his heart was big, his spirit was generous, and youve touched ...

John mcnamara, 56 years old, sportswriter, worked for the newspaper for nearly 24 years. we called him big rob because he was so tall, but it was his remarkable heart and humor that made him larger than all of us. rob hiaasens brother wrote that in a tribute to the 59-year-old editor at the capital gazette. a peculiar and endearing figure in a newsroom full of characters. thats how coworkers are remembering editorial writer 61-year-old gerald fischman who had worked at the newspaper since 1992. ...

And kind and considerate, always someone who would help anyone in need. a jack of all trades and a fantastic person. that is how co-workers are remembering 56-year-old john mcnamara, sports writer who had worked at the paper for nearly 24 years. he leaves behind his wife, who described their time together like this -- our biggest argument was about who was lucky enough to have the other. he was devoted to his friends, devoted to his craft, and he was devoted to me. we called him big rob because ...

And i think that that drill helped save some lives yesterday. >> you had lunch with the editor of "the capital gazette" just a few weeks ago, and you have said these journalists that were murdered were like his family. for people who didnt know them, and were looking at their pictures, remind us about them. >> yeah, so, you would see these guys all over town. i mean, they report on city hall events, which might be the most boring thing a journalist has to do. but you know, theyre journ journalis...

Robert hiaason. this is from carl, someone who was related to him. i want to bring in our national security analyst, retired maryland state police major neil franklin. so i want to get back to you, brian. you know him. you know robert hiaason. and carl is his brother on facebook says ive devastated and heart sick to confirm the loss of my wonderful brother rob today in this mas shooting in the news room at the annapolis capital gazette. he was an editor and a columnist at the paper. one of the m...

The office was kind of in shambles. unfortunately we saw -- we had to pass two bodies of our colleagues which -- which was something that nobody should ever have to stomach. >> reporter: now amid questions of how all of that played out begins the long mourning by family and friends of the victims. robert hiaasen known as big rob, not just because he was tall -- >> he was just this big, generous gentle guy. >> reporter: gerald fishman, editor cal page editor and quiet and reserved with a knowledg...