Bob Simon, R.I.P…..

….an old colleague, good reporter and good man died overnight.  Bob Simon of CBS News was killed in a New York City car crash after cheating death many times as a war correspondent.  We were last together at a reunion of old Viet Nam reporters just over a month ago and I’m particularly grateful I was able to express my appreciation for his kindness to my late wife.

I met Bob when we were both covering Viet Nam for CBS in 1967-68 and he was still going full-bore at the age of 73 as one of the anchors of 60 Minutes.  It was during an earlier reunion, when my wife left her bed at the National Cancer Institute to meet my colleagues at a brunch, that Bob spent about an hour  sitting with her, entertaining her with his usual wit and charm.  It was a precious memory in her last hours.

Unlike the current crop of anchormen, Bob did not need to embellish his resume…covered every war for almost 50 years…and even had the dubious honor of being a prisoner of Saddam Hussein and a victim of his torture.

Bob Simon was the real thing.  Our prayers are with his wife and his family.