The death of Lou Joseph on 2 May robbed Chicago's science writers of their sparkplug. Lou was the NASW member who was always reminding colleagues that "it's time we plan another get together. We haven't had one for quite a while now, you know." And he was the one who wrote the invitation letters and got them printed and mailed. If necessary, he'd take money at the door to cover lunch.
A most amiable man, Lou could turn up at just about any meeting. Sometimes he was there as a pitchman for a client, and others times he was covering as a reporter. Sometimes it was both. He seemed to know everybody., Even at the age of 70, Lou was still working, having already made reservations for his annual business trip to his native Germany. A Holocaust survivor, Lou emigrated from Germany in 1951 and had been interviewed by researchers working with Steven Spielberg for a video documentary called Survivors of the Shoah.
A former reporter for the Atlantic City Press, Lou worked more than 20 years in media relations at the American Dental Association and later worked for Hill & Knowlton as a senior medical writer. For several years, he ran the press room for the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, He authored books and articles for medical publications as well as frequent contributions to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Unfailingly pleasant in life, Lou apparently managed even a fairly pleasant death. He met long-time friend and fellow science writer Ted Berland for lunch to enjoy a pastrami sandwich and cabbage soup, his wife, Joy, said. That night he left his bedroom to go downstairs to "watch the news," but was heard all over the house laughing at the antics of the Three Stooges. It was shortly after that when he was found dead. Besides his wife, Lou left behind seven daughters, a son, a brother and eight grandchildren.
--Jon Van
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