Leonard J. Fisher, an enormously respected old-school reporter who served as associate editor of the Star-Ledger during the newspaper’s prime, died on June 18. He was 80.
Fisher was among a plethora of journalism giants who worked at the Star-Ledger during its golden era. Fisher retired just as the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize, which was immediately followed by a period of significant decline.
He joined the Star-Ledger in 1968 after covering race riots in Detroit and Mayor Richard Daley in Chicago for United Press International. Fisher became the statehouse political reporter and Trenton bureau chief, covering Governors Richard J. Hughes, William T. Cahill, and Brendan T. Byrne, the New Jersey Legislature, and statewide and legislative campaigns. He covered future Gov. Thomas Kean and future Chief Justice Robert Wilentz while they were freshman assemblymen in the late 1960s.
Fisher also covered high-profile federal political corruption and organized crime trials.
Later, Fisher became the Star-Ledger’s city editor in Newark and ran special projects for the state’s largest newspaper.
He was the first Star-Ledger reporter on the scene after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
“Truly one of a kind. Lenny was a great asset to the paper in whatever position he held, be it Trenton bureau chief or city editor in Newark, and there was no one who enjoyed a good time more than he did,” said former Star-Ledger reporter Guy Sterling. Goodbye, old friend. May the party continue wherever you are.”
Fisher is survived by his wife, Susanna, and his twin children, Ari and Rachel.
Services for Fisher will be held on Sunday, June 23 at Riverside Memorial Chapel in Manhattan, followed by three days of Shiva in Manhattan, New Jersey, and the Hamptons.