LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Donald Forst, veteran news-
man and consummate journalist

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to publicly mourn the passing of
prominent citizens of the State of New York whose purposeful careers and
worthy endeavors have contributed to the quality and character of life
in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Donald Forst, who lived in the Hudson area, worked at more
than a dozen newspapers and magazines including THE NEW YORK TIMES, the
LOS ANGELES HERALD EXAMINER, the NEW YORK POST and the BOSTON HERALD,
died on Saturday, January 4, 2014, at the age of 81; and
WHEREAS, Donald Forst, a veteran newsman who led NEW YORK NEWSDAY and
the VILLAGE VOICE as they won Pulitzer Prizes and also worked at more
than a dozen other newspapers; his journalism career started in the
mid-1950s and included stints as cultural editor of THE NEW YORK TIMES,
assistant city editor of the NEW YORK POST and editor-in-chief of the
BOSTON HERALD and he also worked at the LOS ANGELES HERALD EXAMINER, the
HOUSTON PRESS and BOSTON MAGAZINE; and
WHEREAS, Donald Forst was best known for the decade he spent as editor
in chief at NEW YORK NEWSDAY; after NEW YORK NEWSDAY went out of busi-
ness in 1995, he surprised many by taking a job as editor in chief of
THE VILLAGE VOICE, the alternative weekly then struggling for an identi-
ty; the Village Voice won a Pulitzer for international reporting for a
series on AIDS in Africa in 2000; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, Donald Forst joined the faculty at University at
Albany, where he served as editor in residence, typically teaching two
classes a semester; he spent the last seven years teaching journalism at
the University at Albany, where he inspired a new generation of repor-
ters; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of New York State, have lost an eminent author,
journalist, and friend; he will be deeply missed and truly merits the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Donald Forst, veteran newsman and consummate journal-
ist; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Donald Forst.