Thanks for those wonderful memories. I have a few of my own.
In the early '80s, my partner and I had the second floor of a two-flat on Fremont Street that had been gutted, rehabbed and converted into condos. Dorothy bought at the same time and became our downstairs neighbor.
I had been with The Sun-Times for a decade and was new to its editorial board, and Dorothy was... a whiz at the archrival across the street. But she was also Dorothy, the wonderful neighbor. We had to double our wine purchases, but those many evenings trading gossip in each other's homes, in the tiny back yard or on the front stoop were worth it. Newsroom intrigue, unflattering portraits, tips about things to watch — we told each other secrets, and kept them.
More than once, my Robert would turn, as some story broke, to marvel that Dorothy and I had been shooting the breeze about it a few nights before. She was wired so well.
At one point, a valve on our dishwasher broke, flooding her flat and ruining all her wood floors. To her, it was "just a big oops," nothing that our insurance companies couldn't handle. She took it with far more grace than they did.
After a few years, Robert decided we needed more space, and we asked Dorothy if we could buy her unit. Make me an offer, she said. We did, and she accepted it. We were both clients of Joel Weisman, then a Sun-Times reporter (about which I'll say no more) who was also a lawyer. I called to tell him we had reached an agreement and asked him to handle the transaction. He was incredulous. "You're both happy with the price? We should talk," he said. "The best deals are when each side is a little disappointed." But we could never be disappointed with Dorothy, and it went through without a hitch.
We unfailingly left our rivalry on the front stoop, and couldn't have asked for a better friend. I'll always remember her with love.
Lovely tribute, Jim. Here’s to Dorothy, a reporter’s reporter. So many nights we spent in the Class Reunion dissecting the day’s news and who covered it best. Usually, she did. From the days of her Close-Up columns in the Tribune to the yarns she spun out of the Congressional beat in DC in the halls of the Capitol, I tried to follow her lead, what a wonderful writer. She set the bar high. Few could match her. Cheers, old friend. Here’s to a great writer. You will be missed. ❤️
Jim, so good of you to remember Dorothy and share your recollection with others. I met Dorothy when I was researching the late Judy Klemesrud's time in Chicago, Dorothy invited me to her home where we had a snashng good time. I'm sorry she is gone, i hope the memorial service happens and, as I'm tied in Brooklyn at present, hope it will be on Zoom.
Thanks for those wonderful memories. I have a few of my own.
In the early '80s, my partner and I had the second floor of a two-flat on Fremont Street that had been gutted, rehabbed and converted into condos. Dorothy bought at the same time and became our downstairs neighbor.
I had been with The Sun-Times for a decade and was new to its editorial board, and Dorothy was... a whiz at the archrival across the street. But she was also Dorothy, the wonderful neighbor. We had to double our wine purchases, but those many evenings trading gossip in each other's homes, in the tiny back yard or on the front stoop were worth it. Newsroom intrigue, unflattering portraits, tips about things to watch — we told each other secrets, and kept them.
More than once, my Robert would turn, as some story broke, to marvel that Dorothy and I had been shooting the breeze about it a few nights before. She was wired so well.
At one point, a valve on our dishwasher broke, flooding her flat and ruining all her wood floors. To her, it was "just a big oops," nothing that our insurance companies couldn't handle. She took it with far more grace than they did.
After a few years, Robert decided we needed more space, and we asked Dorothy if we could buy her unit. Make me an offer, she said. We did, and she accepted it. We were both clients of Joel Weisman, then a Sun-Times reporter (about which I'll say no more) who was also a lawyer. I called to tell him we had reached an agreement and asked him to handle the transaction. He was incredulous. "You're both happy with the price? We should talk," he said. "The best deals are when each side is a little disappointed." But we could never be disappointed with Dorothy, and it went through without a hitch.
We unfailingly left our rivalry on the front stoop, and couldn't have asked for a better friend. I'll always remember her with love.
Great piece…Chicago journalism certainly had its all of fame.
Thanks jim. She was a great character to spend time with and as you said, a grand writer.
Thanks so much. She was one of the very best and it was a real privilege to deal with her in a time when politics and journalism seemed better.
My condolences on the loss of Ms. Collin - what a fascinating person she was - may she rest in peace 💚
Lovely tribute, Jim. Here’s to Dorothy, a reporter’s reporter. So many nights we spent in the Class Reunion dissecting the day’s news and who covered it best. Usually, she did. From the days of her Close-Up columns in the Tribune to the yarns she spun out of the Congressional beat in DC in the halls of the Capitol, I tried to follow her lead, what a wonderful writer. She set the bar high. Few could match her. Cheers, old friend. Here’s to a great writer. You will be missed. ❤️
Lovely tribute, Jim.
Jim, so good of you to remember Dorothy and share your recollection with others. I met Dorothy when I was researching the late Judy Klemesrud's time in Chicago, Dorothy invited me to her home where we had a snashng good time. I'm sorry she is gone, i hope the memorial service happens and, as I'm tied in Brooklyn at present, hope it will be on Zoom.
Thanks for writing about Dorothy Collin, Jim.