Business & Professional
A Life Of
Achievement
George Cantor is honored
by fellow journalists.
David Sachs
Senior Copy Editor
0
n April 14, Jewish News colum-
nist George Cantor received an
award for excellence in edito-
rial writing, but that's not why dozens
of his friends and relatives showed up
to cheer him on at the annual banquet
of the Detroit Chapter of the Society of
Professional Journalists.
Cantor — a newspaper reporter
and columnist extraordinaire who has
chronicled the gloom and glory of sports
and everyday life in Detroit for nearly a
half-century — was also presented with a
Lifetime Achievement Award from his fel-
low Motor City journalists.
Cantor, 68, has been a reporter, a col-
umnist and an editorial writer. His career
includes the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit
News and, for the past seven years, the
Detroit Jewish News. He has also been a
radio and television personality, delivering
commentary for WWJ-AM and WXYZ-
Channel 7.
Cantor was given a rousing standing
ovation as he arose from his table and
approached the podium to embrace his
former Free Press softball teammate and
fellow writer Tom DeLisle, who had just
given him a colorful, heartfelt introduction.
Cantor, who has been battling advanced
prostate cancer and painful Gaucher's dis-
i PROCLAMATION
GFOkGE
ease, was emotionally moved by his friend's
words and the accolades of fellow journal-
ists and guests.
"It's a thrill to have your life's work rec-
ognized by your peers:' Cantor said after-
ward. "What a memorable evening for my
friends and family — and for me, too!"
Joining in the festivities were Cantor's
wife, Sherry, and his daughter and son-
in-law, Jaime and Michael Ben of West
Bloomfield. Rabbi Harold S. Loss of
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield provided
opening remarks at the banquet.
Oakland County Commissioner Shelley
Goodman Taub of Cantor's home district in
West Bloomfield presented him with an hon-
orary proclamation. "The insights of George
Cantor have informed, educated, brightened,
enlightened and provided food for thought
for all citizens of the Metro Detroit area
for almost 50 years:' it read in part.
Cantor's compatriots from the Jewish
News attended in force, including
Publisher Arthur Horwitz and Editor
Robert Sklar.
"When George left the dailies, I jumped
at the opportunity to bring him to the IN,"
said Sklar. "He's a great storyteller and has
a real grasp on sharing his insights about
everyday life. He's also one of the great
editorial writers and one of Detroit's leg-
endary columnists:'
Added Horwitz, "To have such an
honored and respected voice part of our
CAN- ToR
George Cantor, after the Society of Profession& Journalists awards, is surrounded
by his wife, Sherry, and daughter and son-in-law Jaime and Michael Ben.
publication rounded out the quality con-
tent and distinguished voices we strive to
provide.
"George is from and of the Detroit
Jewish community — and it is only fitting
that he should come home and write for
the community that knows him the best
and that he knows the best."
JN Honored
In all, the Jewish News and its parent compa-
ny Renaissance Media of Southfield received
seven awards from Detroit's Society of
Professional Journalists at the event held
at the San Marino Club in Troy. Sklar and
Cantor were singled out for kudos.
Sklar received two awards. He won third
place as News Columnist for his "Editor's
Letter" that appears weekly on page 5 of the
JN. Sklar also won first prize in Editorial
Writing, with Cantor taking second place.
JN Creative Director Deborah Schultz
Excell•
In Jour
Awa
House Call
claimed two awards. One was with pho-
tographer Daniel Lippett and fashion styl-
ist Lauren Waterstone for the April 2009
Platinum story "'70s Redux." The other
was with photographer Chris Chlor for the
Fall 2009 cover of Beaumont Hospitals'
House Call newsletter, produced by
Renaissance Media.
Photographer Angie Baan won a first-
place award for her work at the JN, and
photographer Lauren Tennant was hon-
ored as well for her JN yoga cover.
"The fact that we continually win
design awards is not by chance said Sklar.
"We take pains to look at illustration and
design in the same dynamic way we look
at stories, whether it's the Jewish News,
Platinum or any of our other publications.
"It was great to see George be honored
by his colleagues, family and friends:' he
added. "For all of us at the JN, this was a
shining moment." O
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In Jou
Robert Sklar
40
April 29 • 2010
iN
Deborah Schultz
Angie Baan