Former Journalism School dean Blumberg dies

Montana journalism legend Nathaniel Blumberg died early Tuesday at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after suffering a stroke last week at his Bigfork area home.

The author and former University of Montana Journalism School dean was 89. Friends and former students had fond memories of him and his influences on journalism.

“He was a dear friend and a brilliant teacher,” said Don Schwennesen, a former Missoulian reporter who was a neighbor of Blumberg’s on Flathead Lake’s east shore. “I remember his university lectures. They were often fiery and inspirational.”

As dean of the Journalism School from 1956 through 1968 and during subsequent years of teaching, Blumburg urged his students to be “terse, tight and telegraphic” in their writing and reporting. He was known to have a powerful influence on many journalists who went on to prestigious careers.

“He’s been a tremendous positive influence on journalism. He has former students all over the world,” Schwennesen said.

Peggy Kuhr, a former Blumberg student who became dean of the Journalism School in 2007 after working as an editor at the Spokane Spokesman-Review, described Blumberg as “a force” who was “incredibly demanding and incredibly smart and dynamic. He’s the reason for my interest and success in journalism.”

Kuhr said even in recent years, Blumberg would check in with her from time to time because “he really cared about this school.”

“I really liked him,” said Les Gapay, a former student who spent part of his career working for the Daily Inter Lake. “He did a hell of a job there. He built up the Journalism School at that time. He had some great professors he recruited from across the country.”

Gapay recalls that Blumberg could be intimidating to some students.

“He typically didn’t suffer fools and he knew how to cut to the heart of things,” Schwennesen said.

Blumberg served in World War II as a forward observer in an artillery battalion that fought in the famed Battle of the Bulge, an experience that he recounted in a book, “Charlie of 666.”

Sam Reynolds, a friend who was the editorial page editor of the Missoulian for 24 years, said Blumberg despised war. “He was an early and ardent opponent of the Vietnam War.”

Blumberg also was an “excellent story teller and joke teller,” Reynolds said.

Blumberg wrote a novel about the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan and for years he published the Treasure State Review, a periodical that focused on Montana journalism, often critically.

Kuhr said Blumberg started some programs at the Journalism School that continue today, such as the Montana Journalism Review, the first publication of its kind in the country at the time.

He also started the annual Dean Stone lecture and awards ceremony that bestows scholarships and awards on journalism students.

Blumberg will be honored at this year’s Dean Stone event on April 20, Kuhr said, and a new endowment fund has been established in Blumberg’s name by a former student, Rich Kaudy, who now is an attorney in Denver.

Kaudy “wanted Nathan to be recognized in his lifetime as one of the greatest professors ever,” Kuhr said, adding that Blumberg wanted the fund to be used to help students pursue investigative journalism projects.

Blumberg penned his own obituary and he did not want a memorial service, but his former friends and former students may have one anyway.

“He did not want a big memorial service, but there’s speculation that his students and other well-wishers will want to do something,” Schwennesen said.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.