Paul M. Hoversten

Of Bradenton, FL passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at McLeod Hospital in Little River, SC, of natural causes. He was 67. An award- winning journalist and executive editor for leading U.S. newspaper and magazine outlets, Paul had an inquisitive mind and adventurous spirit. Born in Pittsburgh, PA to the late O. Henry and Janice Hoversten, he graduated from Bexley High School and Capital University, both in Columbus, Ohio. His college journalism studies led him after graduation to the far reaches of the Pacific as a reporter for the Guam Daily News. Stories he reported there included the discovery of airplane wreckage which may have been connected with Amelia Earhart's tragic last flight. Since the paper was owned by the Gannett chain, in 1982 Paul was selected along with a worldwide team of reporters to relocate to Washington, DC, where they would start USA Today. His reporting assignments there ranged from breaking news throughout the U.S., to reporting from Spain on World Champion Boris Spassky's triumph on the chessboard, to covering the first Gulf War from the Middle East. After a while, he focused on space reporting, becoming the go-to source at USA Today. He later carried that expertise to McGraw-Hill companies Space.Com and Air & Space Magazine. Following those positions he worked for The Smithsonian magazine as a writer and executive editor. His honors include winning the President's Award for Journalism from the American National Standards Institute in 2004, and McGraw-Hill's Homeland Security Award for distinguished reportage. In addition, a unique celestial award was presented to him by USA Today: a star now known as the HoverStar was officially named after him. Paul will be missed by many former colleagues and friends, and especially his family: Sons Adam and Luca and their mother Roberta and the Chillico family; brothers Bill( Alison) and Dan (Anne); his kids Dan II and Sydney and her son Lucas; and sister Carol ( Randy) and their daughter Ariel (Chris Akins) and sons Thompson and Warren.
A private memorial is scheduled in early June 2024.