MACK SOLOMON

SOLOMON--Mack B.,

an editor at The Wall Street Journal for 30 years, died November 21 while reading a book in his home in Jersey City. He was 85. Mack was the ultimate editor -- kind and precise, self-depreciating (he knew that that was preferred to "self-deprecating") and with great news judgment. (Judgment should never have two "e's," he would tell reporters.) As a copy editor, then the writer of the "world-wide" news summary on the Journal's front page, then an editor and rewriteman of front-page stories and ultimately as Assistant Page One Editor of The Journal, he brought his love of facts to readers and his air of civility to the newsroom. He was born March 14, 1932, in Pensacola, FL, to Fannie and Sig Solomon, who operated a grocery store. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Louisiana State University. After stints at newspapers in Pensacola and Shreveport, two years in the Army and a year of teaching at Northeast Louisiana State College, he joined The Journal in late 1960. After retiring in 1991, he spent some time as an editor at SmartMoney magazine. He was a news junkie until the moment he died, keeping an ear to his radio and his eyes on cable news and the Internet. He regularly sent breaking news alerts to his close friends, who came to call the "bulletins" the Solomon News Service. He is survived by his sister, Doris Gaughan.