FRIDAy, MARCH 27 , 2020. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ rE B7
obituaries
Mr. Reeves studied engineering
at the Stevens Institute of Te ch-
nology in Hoboken, N.J., where he
wrote a column — “ Have Pen, Will
Write” — for the student newspa-
per. “Journalism is so attractive,”
he told the Boston Globe in 2001,
“because it’s the one field where
you don’t need any qualifica-
tions.”
He joined the Times in 1966,
remained at the paper for a de-
cade and wrote his column from
1979 to 2014. “It makes me focus,”
he told the Globe. “If you’re to
write two columns a week, you’ve
got to pay attention. I think there’s
a part of me that fears if I didn’t
pay attention that way, I would
drop into history.”
Mr. Reeves’s books included
“A merican Journey” (1982), in
which h e spent five years re-creat-
ing the travels of Alexis de To c-
queville; “Passage to Peshawar”
(1984), about his journeys
through Pakistan; and “Daring
Young Men” (2010), a history of
the Berlin airlift.
His latest, “Infamy” (2015), was
a sweeping history of Japanese
American internment during
World War II, when some 120,000
people were forced into “war relo-
cation camps.” Mr. Reeves chroni-
cled the role of politicians such as
Earl Warren, the future chief jus-
tice of the United States, in back-
ing the internment policy, i n addi-
tion to anti-Japanese rhetoric in-
flamed by figures ranging from
journalist Edward R. Murrow to
artist Theodor Geisel, later
known as Dr. Seuss.
Mr. Reeves’s marriage to Carol
Wiegand ended in divorce, and in
1979 he married Catherine
O’Neill, w ho ran for the California
State Senate as a Democrat and
later co-founded the Women’s
Refugee Commission. She died in
2012.
In a ddition to his son, Jeffrey, o f
Los Angeles, survivors include a n-
other child from his first mar-
riage, Cynthia Fyfe of Royal Palm
Beach, Fla.; a daughter from his
second marriage, Fiona Reeves of
Washington; two stepsons, Colin
and Conor O’Neill, both of Los
Angeles; a brother; and seven
grandchildren.
Although Mr. Reeves spent
much of his life covering politics,
he said he was chastened by his
wife’s unsuccessful run for the
state Senate in 1992. “From my
new perspective, as candidate
co nsort, the business of running
has rubbery rules and a lot of
desperate practitioners, more like
addicts than professionals,” he
wrote in a Los Angeles Times
essay.
The campaign trail offered a
few unhappy lessons, he added.
Among the most discouraging:
l “ ‘Buying a seat’ i s not a politi-
cal charge, it’s our political sys-
tem.”
l “Campaign strategy is simple:
Create an opponent, who may or
may not resemble people living o r
dead, and run against that cre-
ation.”
l “Lying h as become a cceptable
in America, even admired if done
well.”
[email protected]fair. I’m not sure I was.”
Most c ritics seemed to disagree
with Mr. Reeves’s self-assessment.
He w as widely praised f or a trilogy
of White House histories that
aimed to show the presidency “as
it looked from the center,” using
dialogue and narrative detail to
document a few key hours, days or
weeks in the Oval Office.
In addition to “President Ken-
nedy: Profile of Power” (1993), he
wrote “President Nixon: Alone in
the White House” (2001) and
“President Reagan: The Triumph
of Imagination” (2005). “Presi-
dents are magic,” Mr. Reeves told
the Times in a 2011 interview
about Kennedy’s legacy. “They
walk into a room, and the air
changes, and this one, in our life-
times, above all.”
As p art of his reporting process,
he typically conducted hundreds
of interviews and pored over
thousands of pages of archival
materials, including Nixon’s l egal-
pad musings, which included af-firmations such as “need to be
good to do good” and “guts to
stand alone.”
Mr. Reeves was critical of Presi-
dent Bill Clinton, whose first term
he chronicled in the 1996 book
“Running in Place,” and directed
scathing commentary toward
President George W. Bush, the
target of an October 2004 column
headlined, “To Begin With, the
President Is a Fool.”
He h ad voted for the Democrat-
ic presidential nominee, John F.
Kerry, “because I have children
and grandchildren, too, and I love
my country too much to watch
George W. B ush try to figure it out
for four more years,” he wrote.
“Biased? Of course. That’s w hy I
write this column: to share my
bias. I am always amazed when I
get letters, many of them, accus-
ing me of being a ‘liberal’ or, a lot
worse, an ‘elitist.’ Yes, I am. Hello!”
“I also think that being presi-
dent of the United States is an elite
job,” he continued. “Don’t you?
What are we talking about here?”
The older o f two children, Rich-
ard Furman Reeves was born in
Manhattan on Nov. 28, 1936, and
raised in Jersey City. His father
was a county judge, his mother a
bank teller.BY HARRISON SMITHRichard Reeves, a veteran polit-
ical reporter, columnist and au-
thor who chronicled the nation’s
history and politics in graceful
prose for more than h alf a century,
bringing readers inside the White
House during pivotal moments of
modern presidencies, died March
25 at his home in Los Angeles. He
was 83.
The cause was cardiac arrest,
said his son, Jeffrey Reeves. Mr.
Reeves, a longtime faculty mem-
ber at the University of Southern
California’s Annenberg School for
Communication and Journalism,
had also been battling cancer.
With his baritone voice and
conversational writing style, Mr.
Reeves was a personable, erudite
guide to American politics, both
in print and on television. He
co-hosted the NBC magazine
show “Sunday” in the 1970s, was
chief correspondent for the PBS
program “Frontline” and won
honors including Peabody and
Emmy awards, for documentaries
on the Soviet war in Afghanistan
and TV’s impact on politics.
Reviewing his 1977 book “Con-
vention,” a colorful account of the
previous year’s Democratic Na-
tional Convention in New York,
cultural critic John Leonard
called Mr. Reeves “one of our
smartest political reporters and
analysts, a man who fairly b ristles
with opinions, a porcupine
among parrots and trained seals.”
A former chief political corre-
spondent for the New York Times,
he wrote a twice-weekly column
that appeared in more than 160
newspapers across the country;
contributed to magazines includ-
ing New York and Esquire; and
wrote more than a dozen books,
ranging from a 1997 account of his
family’s globe-trotting vacation
(“Family Travels”) to a 2007 biog-
raphy of Nobel Prize-winning
physicist Ernest Rutherford (“A
Force of Nature”), who conducted
experiments at Mr. Reeves’s alma
mater.
Mr. Reeves studied engineer-
ing, not journalism, and was
working for the manufacturer In-
gersoll-Rand in New Jersey when
he began a double life as a journal-
ist. On a lark, he and a few friends
started a newspaper, the Phillips-
burg Free Press, with Mr. Reeves
serving as the editor by night,
investigating local politicians a nd
presiding over the paper’s head-
quarters — a converted movie
theater big enough to house an
old printing press.
He was soon covering local af-
fairs for the Newark News, New
Jersey state politics for the New
York Herald Tribune and New
York’s City Hall for the Times,
which also sent him to the Wood-
stock music festival in 1969 and
later dispatched him to Washing-
ton.
Mr. Reeves “was a bit of a re-
naissance guy, with a deep sense
of philosophy, literature and his-
tory,” said Douglas Brinkley, a
historian who has written on the
Ford and Reagan presidencies.
“He had a gumshoe reporter’s
drive mixed with an armchair-
bound scholar’s sense of deep
reading. Not all people that write
books are intellectuals, and Rich-
ard Reeves was one.”
“Reeves wrote with narrative
flair, which came out of a deep
dive into great novels,” Brinkley
added. “He was one of those liter-
ary biographers who had journal-
istic scruples to get every fact
right. Anything Richard Reeves
ever wrote was eminently footno-
table.”
Mr. Reeves began writing
books with “A Ford, Not a Lincoln”
(1975), a deeply critical account of
Gerald R. Ford’s presidency. Like
many Americans, Mr. Reeves had
disagreed with Ford’s decision to
pardon his predecessor, Richard
M. Nixon — an act of clemency
that Ford said was essential to
keeping the country moving for-
ward.
“Since then, having lived
through, say, O.J. Simpson and
Monica Lewinsky, I realized that
Ford was right,” Mr. Reeves told
NPR in 2006. He wrote a cover
story for American Heritage titled
“I’m Sorry, Mr. President,” and
said that Ford deserved more
credit for his time in the White
House, including for champion-
ing the Helsinki Accords, a far-
reaching agreement between
Western nations and the Soviet
bloc.
“Ford wrote to me, called me
and we communicated back and
forth over the years,” Mr. Reeves
told NPR. “A nd he said in public,
well, h e thought I had always been
rICHArd rEEVES, 83
Author o≠ered window into
modern politics, presidents
PAtrICIA WIllIAms/PICADOr
Richard Reeves was a f aculty member at the University of Southern
California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.“He had a gumshoe
reporter’s drive mixed
with an armchair-
bound scholar’s sense
of deep reading. Not all
people that write books
are intellectuals,
and Richard Reeves
was one.”
douglas Brinkley, a historian
who has written on the Ford and
reagan presidenciesIN MEMORIAMCAROLYN KATRINA HALL
The dearest mother,the kindness friend,
one of the best whom God could lend,
loving, thoughtful, gentle and true,
always willingakind act to do.
Miss you, Mom!
TheFamilyHALLDEATH NOTICETHOMAS H. BINSTED (Age 92)
OfWashington,DC,passed away peacefully at
home on March24, 2020. Predeceased by his
wife,Shirley Binsted in 1997,Tomissurvived by
his daughter,three sons,eight grandchildren
and six great-grandchildren.Acelebration of
life is planned for later in the year.BINSTEDDEATH NOTICEMARYCHECKON "Mae" (nee Rickard)
Age 77 ,ofWoodbridge,VA,
unexpectedly died Saturday,
March 21,2020. She wasborn
in Dublin, Ireland in 1942 and in
1964 cametothe United States
to pursue her 'American Dream'. She was
proud of her new homeand officially became
aUnited Statescitizen in 1997.She is survived
by herfive children, JohnCheckon, Colleen
Checkon, Elaine McClincey (Scott), Diane
Checkon and LukeCheckon (Andrea). She is
also survived by four siblings,all stillliving in
Dublin,Ireland;two sisters,Ellen Carroll and
Rose Honan and two brothers,Frank Rickard
and Mark Rickard; seven grandchildren,Taylor
Checkon, Alyssa Checkon, Cameron
McClincey,BrookeKing, Connor McClincey,
Ethan Checkon and Elena Checkon. She was
preceded in deathby her loving husband of
48 years,JosephD.Checkon. Interment will
take place atalater date at Arlington National
Cemetery. In lieuofflowers,contributions may
be made to the AmericanLung Association at
http://www.lung.org or the American Heart Associa-
tion at http://www.heart.org.CHECKONALICE PELECANOS KARANGELEN
On March 25, 2020, Alice Pelecanos
Karangelen, beloved motherofJennifer
Wassenius and her husband,Bryan and
Stephanie Karangelen, loving grandmoth-
er of Alex and WilliamWassenius,dear
sister of Jeanne Georgelakos and George
Pelecanos,dear partner of Alan Margulis.
Services and interment private.Inlieu of
flowers,contributionsmay be made to St.
Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2815
36th Street and MassachusettsAvenue,
NW,Washington, DC.20007 or Johns Hop-
kins Pancreatic Research Center
http://www.pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/support
http://www.RuckFuneralHomes.comKARANGELENSANDRAS. LEBOWITZ
Passed away on March 23, 2020 at her
home in Rockville,Maryland. She was
born on March 8, 1934 inWashington,
DC to the late Albert and Martha (Breuer)
Schneider.Sandrawas predeceased by
her beloved husband,Paul H. Lebowitz
and sister,Joan Plavnick Kaim. She was
the loving mother of Lauren (Daniel
Kuzminski) Beck,Peter (Kathleen Bialas)
Sallee,Lawrence (Amy Driscoll) Lebowitz,
Emily (Sean) Gallagher and Marci Lebowitz
and grandmother of Spencer,Sean Jr., and
Joseph.
Sandraearned both her Bachelor’sand
Master’sdegreesfrom the University of
MarylandinSpeech Pathology.She
workedinSpeechandLanguageandSpe-
cial Education in Montgomery County
Public Schools for over 30 years,retiring
as ActingDirector of the Department of
Special Education. After retirement, she
taught English asaSecond Language to
adults,Reading for the Blind, and par-
ticipated in many adult courses offered
by OSHER Life Long Learning Institute.
Sandraenjoyed Book Club,theater,travel,
and Chamber Music concerts during her
retirement years.
The family wishestoexpress their grati-
tude to her wonderful caregivers of the
last few years.
Acelebration of Sandra’slife will take
place atalater date.Arrangements to
be made by Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky
GoldbergFuneral Care.LEBOWITZWhen the need arises,letfamilies findyou in theFuneralServicesDirectory.To be seenin theFuneral Services Directory,
pleasecall paid DeathNotices at202-334-4122.C0979 2x3Becauseyourlovedoneservedproudly...Military emblemsare available with death noticesand in-memoriamsTo placeanotice call202-334-4122or800-627-1150,ext. 44122DEATH NOTICERUTHELLEN HAMMER SCHLOSS
(Age 90)
Of Arlington, Virginia, passed away at
Medstar Georgetown Medical Center on
Wednesday,March 25, 2020. Shewill
be missed by her sister, Phyllis Hammer
LaBorwit (Louis) of Bowie,MD,her nieces,
Melanie LaBorwit of Albuquerque,NM.
Aline LaBorwit Davis(Michael) of
Northampton, MA, nephew, AlexM.
LaBorwit of Los Angeles,CA, and several
nieces and nephews.Noservicesare
planned.SCHLOSSJAMES A. STRAW,Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
GeorgeWashington University
Jim "Jimmie" Straw,56year resident of the
DC area, died peacefully at his residence in
Fairfax, Virginia on March16, 2020. Jim was
preceded in death by his parents Ashley
Christian Straw and Myrtle Swingle Straw,
his wife of 58 years Grace Hamilton Straw
and his sonJames Ashley Straw Jr.Jimmie
was born April 12, 1932 inFarmvilleVA.
He graduated from Brookneal High School
in 1949; attended Richmond Polytechnic
Institute (VCU) before enlisting in the Navy
where he received training at US Naval
Hospital Corps School in Portsmith,VA
and later served at USNH in Philadelphia,
PAas Physician’sassistant and received
the National Defense Service Medal. In
1955 upondischargehebeganPharmacy
studiesatThe University of Florida where
he received the Lehn and Fink Gold Medal
Award for Excellency in Pharmacy.In1 963
after receiving his PhD in Pharmacology
he acceptedafaculty position at George
Washington University School of Medicine.
He retired as Professor Emeritusin1997.
His primary areas of research and publica-
tion concentration were cancer,HIV/AIDS
and hypertension. He wasabeloved pro-
fessor known for his humor and generosity.
When he was not involved in academics
James was an avid tennis player,fisherman
and prankster.
Jimmieissurvivedbyhis daughter Sharon
A. Straw Thomas ofFairfax, Virginia; his
sister EthelS.Beall ofFredericksburg,VA;
two nieces,four nephews,five grandchil-
dren, seven great-grandsons andahost of
extended familyand friends who will dearly
miss his intelligence,wit and dedication to
family and community.
Final arrangements will be determined at
alater date as his body was accepted to
The Virginia Anatomical Program so that he
could continue to “teach” futuremedical
students.STRAWDEATH NOTICESANDRABANJO BURNS "Sandy"
Passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on
Monday,March 23, 2020, afteracourageous
battle with metastatic cancer.She wasaloving
mother of Sandie Burns Diaz (David Diaz),
Kathy Burns Hill (Dave Hill),Jackye SueToth (Bill
Toth), Sherri Burns Brown (Marc Brown); and
grandmother to Heather Ballard, Samantha
Harvel, Zach Jeffers,Taylor Burns,MeganToth,
BillyToth,KatieBrown,KellyBrownandJack
Brown; great-grandmothertoBrysen Lawshe,
Braelyn Lawshe,Brody Ballard, and Hannah
Ballard; and aunt to several nieces and
nephews.She was preceded in death by her
parents,John and Anna Banjo,and her brothers
Otis Spaw and Edwin Banjo.She was retired
from the healthcare industry,anactive mem-
ber of the Mary Mother of Peace Columbiettes
Auxiliary,the Sodality of Our Lady,the Amer-
ican Legion, andaformer member of the
Red Hat Society.She wasaconsummate
volunteerand wasaconstant presence at her
daughters’ schoolfunctions like the monthly
hot dog lunches,various field trips and served
as the school’svolunteer librarian. She happily
attendedeveryyouthsportsevent,drovethe
carpool, and valued the importanceof family
dinner together.Her family and friends will
remember her for her strong faith and her
love of God. She had an extensive prayer list
and friends and family asked her to include
their special intentions in her daily prays.She
will also be remembered for her love of food
(or as she called herselfa“Foodie”) and her
love of time with family.The family will hold a
private Mass of Christian Burial.Acelebration
of life will take place at some point in the
future.Inlieu of flowers,the family requests
that donations be made to one of Sandy’s
favorite charities:Discalced Carmelites (Nuns)
of Maryland
([email protected]BURNSDEATH NOTICEURMILA JUDE
Mrs.Urmila Jude slept in the Lord at the age of
84 in her home in Virginia on March 20, 2020.
She worked at the DOJ forashort while.Later
she workedasaNurse at the University of
Maryland CollegePark Student HealthCenter
from 1991 to 2001. She is survived by her
beloved husband,Talari Vishwas Rao Jude,
daughters,Sheila and husband, Raviraj,
Sukanya and Esther Sunita, grandchildren
Deepshikha and husband, Anand, Vishu and
wife Abha, Anjali, Namrata, Akaash,Sonali,
Anupriya, and great-granddaughter,Nandini,
as well as host of relatives and friends who
loved her deeply.Wewill celebrate her life
atalater date.Please view and sign the
family guestbook https://www.dignitymemor-
ial.com/obituaries/silver-spring-md/urmila-
jude-9095077 Contact:[email protected]JUDEDEATH NOTICERICHARDJ. SCHENA
“Rick”
Rick Schena passed away at Inova Alexandria
Hospital on Saturday,February 22, 2020.
Rick wasavery patriotic veteran. He so loved
his family and his country.Heproudly served
his country for 22 years.Hebegan his military
career at age 17 serving in the Navy during
WWII. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1945
and then enlisted in the AirForce in 1947 and
served during theKoreanWar. He retired from
the AirForce in 1966 asaMaster Sergeant. His
final assignment was in the 89th Airlift Wing at
Andrews AirForce Base in Maryland. After his
military career,hebecameahome remodeling
and home buildingcontractor.
Rick was born in Revere,Massachusetts on
December 17, 1926. He was the youngest
son of 12 childrenborn to Michaeland Marie
Antoinette Schena. Rick married Ruth Evans in
December 1953.
Surviving family members includehis wife
of 66 years,two sons and daughter-in-laws,
RichardJ. (Donna)andPaulD.(Maryanne) and
granddaughter,Alix.
ACelebration of Life Serviceis planned for later
in the year.
RickwillbeinterredatArlingtonNational
Cemeteryatadate to be determined.
In lieu of flowers,please considermaking a
donation in Rick’smemory to the Georgetown
UniversityMedical Center,FundAFellow
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