Joseph W. Mooney, Jr., a newsman’s editor
Joseph W. Mooney, Jr. could have played Ben Bradlee in All the President’s Men, he could have been an editor-at-large for Newhouse Publications, but in reality he was the editor of The Springfield Union-Republican, with a goal to make it a respected regional publication serving western New England.
A liturgy of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church, Springfield was held Friday with the Rev. Msgr. George A. Farland, pastor, followed by committal and internment with military honor at the Chapel of the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, for Pharmacy Mate Joseph W. Mooney of West Springfield.
Mr. Mooney, who died Oct. 29, was 87.
I saluted him after a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps” at the chapel to honor Mr. Mooney for his service to his country and his dedication and commitment to journalism to western Massachusetts.
Family and friends went to Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield for lunch.
I met a few family members and noted they would have a lot of good memories of Joe and his newspaper days that began on Long Island and ended in Springfield.
I re-acquainted myself with Jeanne Mooney, who was a copy girl when I was in the city room back in 1970.
She went on to write for a couple of newspapers, including The Holyoke Transcript and Telegram and The Virginian-Pilot. Today she is a schoolteacher. Another daughter, Mary Sue (Mooney) Bluemer has worked for 40 years in classified advertising at The Republican.
Aside from those daughters, he leaves two other daughters, Robin Mullett and Pamela Hoyt; a son, Joseph W. Mooney III; a sister, Patricia Pecqueux; and eight grandchildren.
Mr. Mooney sought to make the Springfield-based newspaper a regional force and empowered the bureau chiefs in North Adams (John Hitchcock), Pittsfield (Bob Burbank), Greenfield (Ralph Gordon), Northampton (Jerry Cain), Holyoke (Charlie Goddu), Westfield (Jim VanPetersilge), Palmer (Frank Kitch) and the State House (Phillip D. Brunelle).
Recently Susan M. Wicker Guerrero of Pittsfield, a former reporter for The Springfield Union-Republican and current staff writer for The Berkshire Beacon, wrote of Joe in a column:
“Joseph W. Mooney, Jr. put the scare of ‘be Jesus’ in every reporter on the staff. Those who were green-behind-the-ears especially drew his fury.
“This guy didn’t just bark an order. He yelled in a voice so loud that it rattled those around him right down to the toes of their shoes.
“God forbid if a reporter was late in turning in a story, the editor would scream across the newsroom so everyone could hear. He’d remind the reporter he was writing for today’s newspaper, not yesterday’s, and get it in gear or get out.
“More than once my cheeks burned red with shame and humiliation, but I learned very quickly to make the deadlines.”
In retrospect, he really could have played Ben Bradley in All the President’s Men rather than Jason Robards. He was an editor/reporter and as a member of the family recalled, he spent many hours at the newspaper, improving each edition.
All the President’s Men is a 1976 Academy Award-winning political thriller based on the 1974 non-fiction book of the same name by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two journalists investigating the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post.
“The film starred Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein, respectively; it was produced by Walter Coblenz, written by William Goldman and directed by Alan J. Pakula,” according to Wikipedia.
The film not only dealt with Watergate but also became the impetus for young students to turn their attention to journalism as a career.
My recollection was Mr. Mooney was not in favor of “clubbing” with the Springfield natives and business owners. He left that to the then-publisher Sidney R. Cook.
His goal was to take the first edition that went to Berkshire and Franklin counties and make it over for the city edition. The second edition went to Hampshire County, while the third went to Holyoke, Westfield and Palmer. The fourth edition went to Springfield’s metro area.
Mr. Mooney was there during the evolution between ROP (run of press) with several full-page ads and then later the inserts, which the big box stores use today. He was there from the change-over from hot type to cold type and the addition of computers. Like other newspapers they started with a mainframe and then went to personal computers.
How technology has changed since he left the newspapers in 1975, with new software and updated computers allowing for view of copy and ads along with pagination and layout. Today newspapers run with smaller staffs, and in many cases newspapers are consolidating their printing operations.
Meanwhile, the Springfield newspapers are in negotiations with one of the casinos for a buy-out of its property. Change may be coming.
“Ink” was in the veins of Mr. Mooney. His life and style of the old-time editor rang true from his advocacy of putting out a first-class newspaper to shouting orders and probably using words that are not allowed in church to praising his lead sub editors and reporters.
He once asked me if I was Captain Kangaroo. My retort was: “I may have long hair, but I don’t have his money.”
And for that moment, Joe Mooney was silent.
Today, we acknowledge his contributions to journalism and share with his family the loss of a husband, father, and grandfather.
Perhaps former Statehouse Bureau Chief and Political Writer Glenn Briere of Cambridge said it best: “I am saddened to hear this news. Joe gave me my first job as a reporter at the then-Union over 40 years ago and I learned so much about the business (and life) from him.
“Joe was one of the finest newspapermen I have ever known. It’s good to know that my old friends and colleagues kept Joe connected to the newspaper business over the years, because it meant so much to him.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Joe’s family.
Posted by George C. Jordan III
on November 15, 2012. Filed under Opinion,View from the Tower.
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