This message was first sent from Dean Mark Lodato to faculty and staff.
Dear Newhouse Community,
I write today with sad news. Bob Lissit, a professor emeritus who taught and mentored hundreds of Newhouse students during a two decade-long tenure on the faculty that followed a distinguished career in the newsroom, has died. He was 88.
Funeral arrangements were announced this week for Bob, who passed away
Feb. 1.
I never knew Bob personally, but his legacy at the Newhouse School lives on through stories from former colleagues and students. Bob taught at Newhouse between 1992-2011. He was so proud of his students that he took a group picture of each of his classes and posted them on his office wall.
Lynne Adrine, former director of the Newhouse DC program, credits Bob for encouraging and supporting her transition to academia after the two first worked together at ABC News. Bob and professor emeritus Dona Hayes created the Newhouse graduate capstone program in Washington.
Lynne described Bob as a “larger-than-life presence who shaped many Orange careers.”
“It is not hyperbole to say he changed my life. I am not alone in being able to make that statement,” she said. “Bob enjoyed a storied career in broadcast journalism and in academia. It is impossible to count the number of lives he touched.”
Anthony Adornato described Bob as “a gem” and recalls fond memories from his classes when Anthony was an undergraduate at Newhouse. They kept in touch after Anthony graduated, with Bob reaching out through calls and emails.
The service, which will be held Feb. 24 in suburban Chicago, will also be streamed live on the funeral home website. On behalf of the Newhouse community, let me extend our sincerest condolences to Bob’s family and friends. He leaves a lasting impact through the dedication he showed former students who went on to work in newsrooms across the country, and the enduring friendships he forged with colleagues.
Sincerely,
Mark