Saul Everett Halpert

1922 - 2016

September 22, 1922 - August 16, 2016 Saul Halpert of Sherman Oaks, CA died peacefully at home on Tuesday afternoon, August 16 at the age of 93. Saul was born on September 22, 1922 in Albany, New York to Daniel and Rose Poskanzer Halpert. At age 16 he moved with his father to Los Angeles, where Saul attended Belmont High School and graduated in 1940. At Belmont he met the love of his life Ruth Levin. He earned an AA degree in 1942 from Los Angeles City College and entered the Army, where he served as a 2nd Lieutenant. Saul and Ruth married in New York City in November, 1943. Upon completing his military service, Saul returned with Ruth to Los Angeles, where he launched a career in broadcast journalism that lasted 40 years and made him a household name to millions of people. After two years in radio, he transferred to television and helped found the News Department at Channel 7, ABC TV. He remained there for sixteen years. While working, Saul earned a B.A. in Social Studies at USC. In 1960 he was the first broadcast journalist to receive a one year graduate fellowship from the Haynes Foundation, which allowed him to earn a Master's degree in Journalism from UCLA. Saul is best known for his decade each at KNXT and KNBC. As a reporter at KNXT, Saul was a key member of The Big News, one of the nation's first news hours. At KNBC, he was a reporter and moderator of Channel 4 News Conference, the station's Emmy Award winning interview program. He twice received a Golden Mike from the Television News Association of Southern California for that program. Saul's assignments ranged from race relations in Los Angeles to national issues and international affairs. He covered many Democratic and Republican national conventions and presidential election campaigns. After leaving KNBC in 1989, Saul lectured, served as a panelist on programs dealing with the role of mass media in the political process, and worked as a freelance writer, media consultant, and instructor in broadcast journalism at both USC and UCLA. While maintaining the highest standards of objectivity in his professional role, Saul was also a tireless advocate of civil and human rights. He worked at various times as shop steward for the the Writers Guild of America, the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET), and the American Federation of TV and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Saul was preceded in death by his son Robert in 1981, and wife Ruth in 1998. He will be missed especially by his son Jim and wife Li Wang, nephews Stuart Halpert, Jerry Gordon, and Allan Gordon, niece Cecille Gordon, and caregiver Carmen Guerra. A memorial service will be held at Westwood Village Memorial Park, 1218 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 474-1529. The date and time will be determined later. Memorial contributions can be made to The Ruth L. Halpert Memorial Scholarship Endowment in the name of Saul E. Halpert. CSUN Foundation, 1811 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8321. Inquiries at (818) 677-6057 development@csun.edu.