Memories of Arthur Spiegelman, his humility and his humour

Spiegelman died last December aged 68 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. About 100 people attended the memorial service including his wife Charlotte, their younger son Adam, Reuters global managing editor Betty Wong, general news editor Howard Goller, and current and former Reuters journalists from New York and Washington, many of whom he mentored over the years.

Several of Charlotte and Arthur's former neighbours came to the event from Montclair, New Jersey, where they had lived and where Charlotte was jokingly known as "the Mayor of Montclair”.

Paul Holmes, Reuters former editor, political and general news, was the emcee for the service. Arthur's love of his family, of words, and of jazz, were recurring themes as friends and colleagues shared their memories - and many funny stories - of a man who never lost his humility or his humour, even in his final days.

Praise flowed for Arthur's sparkling leads, his intellect, and his insight. Former colleagues Michael Arkus and Andrew Nibley affectionately recalled Arthur's sharp wit, his infectious giggle, his chaotic desk, and his constant fear that he was one day away from being fired, despite working for Reuters for 42 years in London, New York and, for the past 12 years, in Los Angeles where he was West Coast bureau chief and chief entertainment correspondent.

Evelyn Leopold, whose friendship with Arthur pre-dated his time at Reuters to their years at The Record in Hackensack, New Jersey, read a letter from his friend, the Canadian poet Barry McKinnon, about their bonding over jazz. Dr Shelly Recinello, a family family and a psychologist, called Arthur "one of my favourite unofficial case studies." Arthur’s son Adam recalled how his father had always insisted that you put other people first (because more of them will show up at your funeral) – and how his sense of humour filtered down to his sons, both of whom are in comedy entertainment. Jazz saxophonist Kenny Brooks and singer Joy d'Angelo closed the service with Amazing Grace. Charlotte told the gathering she has chosen the song because Arthur had woven the lyrics by John Newton into a short story he had written last year. For how had Arthur spent his time while sick? He had decided to learn to write and attended a creative writing course. He was, as Charlotte recalled, a star student. “When I finished reading my story, the whole class applauded and then sang ‘Amazing Grace',” she quoted him as saying.

Paul Holmes: “I’m told that when Art lived in London in the sixties, he would smoke, ahem, ‘herbal’ cigarettes. Can you imagine that giggle of his after a puff or two?… There have been some great jokes here tonight, and Arthur must be up there laughing with us.”

Belinda Goldsmith: "Few deskers could resist a Spiegelman lead, even if he did break all the Reuters rules about sourcing and the day of the week in the lead. Farewell King Lear, Hello Hobbits. An actor's life can take strange turns, read his introduction to an interview with British actor Ian McKellen...One of his personal favourites was about comedian Don Rickles: There's a secret to the success of 81-year-old insult comedian and beloved American institution Don Rickles - he cannot tell a joke.

Michael Arkus: On paranoia. “He had a sort of gloomy look - halfway between gloom and a boy caught with his hand in a cookie jar. He said, ‘They are going to fire us.’ And he went on day after day, year after year.… As far as I am concerned he is still here…I can still hear him, his kooky laugh.”

Adam Spiegelman: “If you can’t spell a word, find another word,” he quoted Arthur as saying. His Dad told him he had to be good to other people. “It didn’t make any sense,” Arthur opined, “for someone to have the last bagel with onions.”

Andrew Nibley: “Many people change personalities, become political. But Arthur was always Arthur. He always listened to everything you said and he always came up with something wonderful. And he never really expected anything in return.” ■