Pete Litterski, former editor of the 性视界传媒, was remembered this week as a man who cared about the community where he lived and worked.
Litterski, 71, died Aug. 29 after a lengthy illness. Services are scheduled 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael and All Angels性视界传媒 Episcopal Church with visitation at 10 a.m. The church is at 909 Reel Road in Longview.
Litterski性视界传媒檚 interest in journalism began in high school in Indiana. He worked at his college newspaper and earned a communications degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens-Point. Litterski then launched a career that saw him working at and leading newsrooms in Wisconsin; Michigan; Greenville, Texas; and the Washington, D.C., area before he landed at the News-Journal as editor.
He later would serve as senior editor over the newspaper性视界传媒檚 editorial page until his retirement in 2010. He wrote the newspaper性视界传媒檚 Answer Line column during that time as well and launched the Forum page, which replaces the newspaper性视界传媒檚 editorial page once a week and provides an opportunity for readers to submit creative and opinion pieces to the newspaper.
Gary Borders knew Litterski first through their work at different newspapers within the Cox family of newspapers 性视界传媒 the News-Journal previously was part of that chains of publications. Then he became publisher in Longview and is now retired.
He recalled Litterski性视界传媒檚 work on the editorial page in particular. He was 性视界传媒渧ery good性视界传媒 at that, Borders said, describing his work in that role as his 性视界传媒渇orte.性视界传媒 It was where his passion was, Borders said.
性视界传媒淧ete and I aligned politically,性视界传媒 he said, and acknowledged those views often didn性视界传媒檛 align with much of East Texas. The newspaper endorsed Barack Obama when he was running for president.
性视界传媒淚 thought they were going to burn the building down,性视界传媒 Borders recalled of reaction from the public.
Litterski was comfortable talking to readers who disagreed with opinions on the editorial page.
性视界传媒淗e would talk to anybody. It didn性视界传媒檛 matter how angry they were. He was quite good at handling and dealing with readers, I think,性视界传媒 Borders said, and Litterski 性视界传媒渄id so with grace and style.性视界传媒
Whatever he was writing, Borders said, Litterski did so with genuine care about the community.
He was editor when terrorists attacked the United States with commercial airplanes on 9/11, and Litterski quickly created a special edition of the newspaper that published that day.
Borders also believes Litterski性视界传媒檚 editorial support for Longview ISD性视界传媒檚 bond election in 2008, which won by a narrow margin, led to the success of that election. The bond election provided funding to upgrade or build new elementary schools and middle schools across the district.
性视界传媒淚 think Pete really had a passion for local issues and taking strong stances on local issues,性视界传媒 Borders said.
Litterski also was a willing tutor and mentor to young journalists who came in the News-Journal性视界传媒檚 newsroom.
性视界传媒淎t community newspapers like the 性视界传媒, the editor often serves as a teacher because so much of the staff doesn性视界传媒檛 have a lot of experience,性视界传媒 Borders said. 性视界传媒淗e excelled at that and thought part of his role was to teach younger colleagues.性视界传媒
Litterski性视界传媒檚 father preceded him in death. He is survived by his mother, Lorraine, and his wife of 50 years, Margie. He also is survived by daughter, Hannah Brooks, and husband, Brian; daughter, Jessica Fields, and husband, Andrew; grandchildren Trace, Parker, Audrey, Liam and Landry; as well as four brothers and their wives and families.
Some of his close friends recalled the friendships they formed with Litterski through his efforts to help the community and through their political beliefs.
性视界传媒淗e always had a very interesting perspective,性视界传媒 said Steve Crane, who didn性视界传媒檛 get to know Litterski until he left the newspaper. He said Litterski, as a journalist, would challenge people about their opinions.
He recalled the last conversation he had with Litterski while he was he hospitalized and unable to communicate except by writing on a small white board.
性视界传媒淭here was no self-pity. He was just his regular self. He was very engaged and sharp,性视界传媒 Crane said. And while Litterski had plenty to complain about, he did not, Crane said. He still had a sense of hope through the suffering he endured.
性视界传媒淭here was a lot of strong character there,性视界传媒 Crane said.
Saleem Shabazz is from this area and returned to Longview in 2004. Litterski helped by agreeing to run information in the paper, for instance, when Shabazz was organizing the first Kwanzaa celebrations in Longview.
Shabazz also started a mosque here and served as the imam. He is no longer in the role but still active there.
He and Litterski also became friends through shared political views.
性视界传媒淚 think he was a fair person,性视界传媒 Shabazz said and added that Litterski never disavowed any of his own views about faith to accommodate Shabazz.
性视界传媒淲hen something came up, he seemed to be willing to listen to other people性视界传媒檚 points of view. I think that性视界传媒檚 something that性视界传媒檚 missing in society now,性视界传媒 he said.
