David Nyhan

Yesterday's blizzard took a huge toll when David Nyhan, a giant in the world of Boston journalism and politics, died yesterday after shovelling snow. I'm not sure how well known he was outside of New England, but he was at least regionally famous as a man of great intellect, compassion, and humor. He was, as my husband says, a real grownup. He was irreplaceable.

A loving obit in today's Boston Globe tells the story of his career.

"In his long career at the Globe, David Nyhan made many important contributions," said Alfred S. Larkin Jr., spokesman for the Globe. "Perhaps most visibly, he was in the forefront of a generation of reporters and columnists who built the Globe's reputation for top-notch political coverage and commentary. He was a fun-loving, gregarious man who seemed to know virtually everyone in politics, whether it was at City Hall, the State House, or in our nation's capital."

"Senator Edward M. Kennedy, whom Mr. Nyhan admired but needled from time to time, said in a statement issued by his office: "A Nyhan column over breakfast was a perfect way to start the day, even if it caused a little sudden indigestion."

Whenever Nyhan made one of his guest appearances on the local WGBH news show Greater Boston - and he appeared regularly during the past campaign - he commanded the listener's full attention. He was witty, erudite, incisive and mostly liberal.

One of his daughters spent last year working as an intern for the Kerry campaign. Our greatest sympathy to his family.