I'm sure we were steeled by the reports we were receiving of Roy's condition to expect that this might occur, but it was distressing news nevertheless.

I have one clear memory of Roy that has remained with me for 40 years, from our period together at the Washington Post in the 1960s. Roy served a stint as an assistant city editor, and I can still picture him standing at the city desk, barking orders to reporters to go out on this fire or police call, or whatever. He was clearly a journalist in command.

We can all say proudly that we knew him when...when maybe we did but probably did not know where our lives and careers would take us. As the obits this morning in the NY Times and especially the Post make clear, Roy made and left a distinguished mark in American journalism and human rights. I hope he will long be remembered and respected for that.

Alan Dessoff