RIP to one of our own, one of our best -- Craig Stanke

Rest.

 

Damn. RIP

 

What a body blow, not just to our profession, but to those who loved and cared about him.

RIP.

 

This is Amy, Craig's girlfriend. I just want to thank you all for sharing your thoughts, memories, respect, and love for Craig. Journalism was his passion. As well as he'd made the transition to on-line media, in my mind I always saw him as a 1950's newpaperman. If only they had made a Mad Men about the news business.

There are a few poster names I recognize; a few I think I can identify. I hope you all know how much you all meant to him and the great pride he took every time you wrote the next perfect story or moved on to the next fantastic opportunity. He was so humble about his place in this world and so proud of the successes of the people he had worked with throughout his career.

Your posts are bringing me much comfort and even some smiles.

Thank you.

 

So very sorry to hear such sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.

 

I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds here, but Amy's kind and gracious words brought me back to last night. I was talking to our dear Simon on Facebook messaging. He is understandably distraught. I sent him the link below, told him to print it out and save it forever. Craig was so happy for him.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/88122/

We then talked about a message he had received telling him yesterday that not only had Craig talked about Simon here, but he told everyone he cared about about this young up-and-comer he'd known for almost a decade who he was so proud he could hire.

That made me cry last night, and it's making me cry now. The journalism world, and world at large, lost a lot yesterday.

 

I'm sorry for your loss Amy, and my condolences to his family and friends.

Looking back at his posts, he primarily commented on my anti-Gannett rants. Even though he didn't agree with me, he always was understanding. RIP

 

When my grandfather died last November, a man came by the house to visit with the family and pay his respects. He was a former FBI agent who, I think, had rented one of my grandfather's houses. Anyway, he said something that really, really stuck with me and my family. I'm sure he didn't make it up on the spot, as I believe it's been used in military circles in the past. But it's something that I think applies to Stanke.

"You're not truly dead until your name is forgotten. And his name will never be forgotten."

RIP.

 

What seems to make this one particularly tough to process is that this is a guy who seemingly did everything right in terms of taking care of himself. In the past, when we've lost people, we've been able to at least take something positive away by recognizing that this business can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle, and not letting ourselves go down the same path. But Craig was a fitness buff who was talking about making a run at qualifying for the Boston Marathon. I knew before yesterday, rationally, that you can take care of yourself perfectly, eat healthy, and still die young. But it is still difficult to be reminded of in a very tangible way. The next time my running shoes hit the pavement will be important, because this kind of thing just saps the motivation, as that little voice inside you says, "Why the hell should I bother?"

 

The outpouring of good will and passion for Craig Stanke is a true testament to the man he was and what he stood for. Whether it's personal or professional, how lucky were people to have someone like Craig in their lives?

One thing folks might not realize is that his mother passed away last year. She was a motivated and impactful woman who made a difference with the arts in Madison.

Condolences and prayers to Craig's children, Amy, Kristin Erickson (Craig's sister) and his entire family -- immediate and extended.