Headline: ST.
LOUIS LOSES A CHAMPION OF HUMANITY\ GREG FREEMAN 1956-2002
Reporter: By Tim O'Neil\Of The Post-Dispatch
Publication: ST.
LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Wed., Jan. 1, 2003
Section: NEWS, Page: A1, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT
Gregory B. Freeman, a Post-Dispatch columnist, unabashedly proud son of St. Louis and a tireless champion for racial harmony, died Tuesday (Dec. 31, 2002) at his home in the Central West End.
Mr. Freeman, 46,
joined the Post-Dispatch as a reporter on March 24, 1980, began writing columns
in 1989 and became a full-time columnist in 1992. He attracted a large following
for his column by writing about everyday life -- his cats, his son's coming
of age and his own struggle to control his weight -- and time-honored virtues,
such as courage, integrity and loyalty.
He wrote frequently and passionately about civil rights
and the need for St. Louisans of different races to look at the world through
each others' eyes. "Unfortunately, many people feel that the area's racial
divisions aren't their problem, " he wrote in a recent column. "Many
of us take so much time demonizing the other that we don't have time to look
at ourselves."
Though Mr. Freeman
had battled kidney disease, prostate cancer and muscular dystrophy in recent
years, his death came as a shock to newsroom colleagues and to his readers.
He had been leading a vigorous life, writing three columns a week, hosting a
radio show on KWMU-FM, and making numerous public appearances.
After
his death was made public on the Post-Dispatch's Web site, STLtoday.com, just
before noon, expressions of grief from readers came pouring in to the site's
online forum. By midafternoon there were more than 100 from St. Louis and across
the country.
"These
days so many commentators and columnists write with rancor and divisiveness.
I will miss Greg, for his observations were filled with notions like tolerance,
compassion, diversity, and community service, " wrote reader Dan Davis
of St. Louis.
Mr. Freeman's
visibility and impact extended well beyond the newspaper.
Since November 1999, he had been host of the KWMU-FM's
"St. Louis on the Air, " a current events talk and call-in show, and
had been a contributor to the National Public Radio affiliate for a decade.
Mr.
Freeman also hosted a television show, "Mosaic with Greg Freeman, "
on KETC-TV (Channel 9), from 1997 to 2001. He was a leader in the National Association
of Black Journalists and in several local journalism organizations, and took
special pride in conducting workshops for black students who were interested
in journalism.
Mr. Freeman collapsed
in his home in the Central West End. His wife, Elizabeth Freeman, and son, William,
tried without success to revive him. St. Louis Fire Department paramedics rushed
him to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:57 a.m.
The
cause of death was unknown. An autopsy will be conducted.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Graham Chapel on the campus of Washington University, his alma mater. A reception will follow in the Holmes Lounge on campus.
Mr. Freeman was
born in St. Louis and grew up in the Penrose neighborhood. He graduated from
Beaumont High School and went to Washington University, where he graduated with
a degree in Spanish in 1978.
He
caught the newspaper bug early in life, writing for the Yeatman Yak Yak while
in grade school. He was named editor of the Beaumont Digest.
He was co-editor of Student Life at Washington University,
where he met his wife, Elizabeth, a fellow staff member.
They
were married in 1979 in Graham Chapel.
Mr. Freeman had a college internship at the old Washington (D.C.) Star and worked part time while in college at the St. Louis American. He worked for a year each at the Oakland Press in Pontiac, Mich., and the Belleville News-Democrat before he joined the Post-Dispatch.
One of his most
fondly remembered assignments was St. Louis City Hall, which he covered for
four years. In 1987, he was promoted to assistant city editor overseeing local
political and government news.
Vincent
C. Schoemehl Jr., former mayor of St. Louis, was in office when Mr. Freeman
covered City Hall. Schoemehl remembers Freeman fondly.
"As
a reporter, he was very fair. He took care to make sure that he presented both
sides of a story. As a columnist, he was a genuine cheerleader for the city
without jeopardizing his position as a journalist. He was able to speak about
the positive components that really make the city tick."
As a columnist,
Mr. Freeman frequently floated ideas and asked for suggestions from readers
on how the city could be made a better place. Except for his stint in Michigan,
Mr. Freeman lived in the city all his life.
"Greg
loved St. Louis, and believed that St. Louis was never recognized for its full
potential, " said Elizabeth Freeman. "He was always a great proponent
of St. Louis and city living."
Mr. Freeman was
immensely popular with his colleagues and a mentor to many young journalists.
Terrance
C.Z. Egger, publisher of the Post-Dispatch, said, "We are all shocked by
the loss of such a beautiful man. We are also very blessed to have had Greg
in our lives and to have had such a wonderful leader at our newspaper and in
our community. His hope and optimism for the St. Louis region, especially the
people who call this home, should be an inspiration to all of us."
Editor
Ellen Soeteber said, "In person, Greg was just the same as he appeared
to be in print and in public - warm, funny, modest, generous, principled. He
was a wholly decent man. He was beloved in St. Louis, and his passing leaves
a big hole in our community."
Managing
Editor Arnie Robbins gathered the newsroom staff Tuesday morning for silence
and tribute to Mr. Freeman. "Elizabeth told us to tell you how much he
loved the newsroom as his second family, " Robbins said. "Greg fought
his physical ailments with an incredible amount of grace and humor and love
of life."
Kidney transplant
led to series on organ donations
Mr.
Freeman had suffered from medical complications in recent years. In 1999, he
underwent surgery for prostate cancer. One year later, he was diagnosed with
limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and had been using a wheelchair for about a
year. In 2001, he received a kidney transplant from his sister, Cheryl McKinney
of St. Louis.
Since
that operation, Mr. Freeman had been a champion of organ donations and transplants,
as well as the problems faced by people with disabilities.
With
editor Soeteber's encouragement, Mr. Freeman helped launch a yearlong series
on the promise and problems associated with organ donations. That series has
caused readers by the hundreds to sign organ donor cards. Mr. Freeman was among
them, and some of his remains were harvested for transplant.
Mr. Freeman's column had a strong following among African-Americans. "The African-American community is very proud of Greg, of his voice at the Post-Dispatch, a voice that was very much needed, " said Alvin Reid, city editor of the St. Louis American and 1977 alumnus of one of Mr. Freeman's student workshops. "Without being confrontational, he took on the important issues and had something to say. Greg was a pillar of the Greater St. Louis Black Journalists Association. Greg was who we looked to for direction, for a solid foundation."
Mr. Freeman was
a past president of the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis and of the local
chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was executive chair and
a past president of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists,
and was a former board member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
He
was active in the St. Louis Minority Journalism Workshop and helped to raise
scholarship money for black journalism students. He also was on the board that
oversees Student Life at Washington University.
In
2001, he was named a Media Person of the Year by the St. Louis Press Club. Among
the other awards he received were two local Emmys for his TV show and several
Excellence in Journalism citations from the area Association of Black Journalists.
He
was a co-founder of Bridges Across Racial Polarization.
In addition to
his wife, son and sister, Mr. Freeman is survived by his mother, Doris B. Freeman
of St. Louis, who taught third grade at Hempstead School in St. Louis for 24
years. His son, William, 21, is a graphics arts student at St. Louis Community
College at Forest Park.
The
Freemans converted to Catholicism four years ago and are members of St. Alphonsus
"Rock" Church.
As word of his
death spread throughout the community, the newspaper received many testimonials.
Here are some of them.
*
Gerald Boyd, managing editor of the New York Times and a former staff member
of the Post-Dispatch, who spoke at several of the minority journalism workshops
in St. Louis: "He was part of a generation who believed very much in giving
back. The kids loved him and really responded to him. He had the perfect pitch
in knowing how to be firm and tell them what they needed to know, but he did
it in a way that wasn't heavy-handed. He saw as his mission making journalism
meaningful, relevant and inclusive to large numbers of people."
*
U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis: "He was much more than just a
columnist. Through his work, Greg tried to motivate St. Louisans to take on
the tough issues that some of us would rather not think about."
*
Dr. Jeffrey Lowell, who performed Mr. Freeman's kidney transplant surgery, and
who was a guest several times on his radio show: "Thousands of people who
are awaiting transplants, and who have received them, owe him a huge debt of
gratitude. He took a leadership role on the issue. He would talk on his show
about transplants and controversies and ethical dilemmas, and he could do it
in new and interesting ways to bring the story home to people."
*
Patty Wente, general manager at KWMU: "Here's a guy who had a kidney transplant,
prostate cancer and MD, and not once did he moan or complain. H e kept coming
in and doing the show. On the air, he had a knack for taking on controversies
without getting taken down with them."
*
Mayor Francis Slay: "His easygoing manner belied a strong passion for improving
the community in which he lived. His column was a must-read for me because of
its insights and ideas to improve the city of St. Louis."
*
Steven C. Roberts, former St. Louis alderman and president of Roberts Broadcasting
Co.: "He was the most articulate spokesperson for racial diversity in St.
Louis. He could see both sides of issues. He understands there had been unfairness
in our society and sought to air it out. He lived his activism in a way that
could change people's minds to see how we can live better together."
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