• by Tanya Gazdik , April 10, 2023

Editors Note: Updates to include arrangements. 

Longtime journalist Jack Feuer, 71, died Friday morning. 

He was admitted to the hospital in Thousand Oaks, California and was found to be suffering from Legionnaires’ disease that exacerbated underlying medical conditions, says Molly Feuer, his daughter-in-law, who is married to his son, Alex.

Besides Molly and Alex, Feuer is survived by his sister Toni, nephew Jeff, grandnephew Reid and his dog Danzig.

The family is hosting a celebration of Feuer’s life this Saturday, April 15, in Malibu at Zuma Beach, tower 13 at 10 am. All are welcome.

Feuer, who was most recently editorial director at UCLA, influenced multitudes of journalists over the years and was truly beloved by many. His stints as a reporter and editor included MediaPost, Adweek and Inside Media magazine. 

He also spent five years as managing editor at J.D. Power and was the author of “Good Men: A Practical Handbook for Divorced Dads.”  

Feuer grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Tenafly High School. He went on to graduate from New York University where he received a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism in 1974.  At Syracuse University, he received a master’s degree in public communications in 1975.

He described himself on LinkedIn as a “marketing communications and advertising strategist and copywriter, strategic communications consultant, writer, editor, columnist, reporter and author,” but he was so much more. 

Freelance writer Joan Voight, who worked with Feuer at both Adweek and later at UCLA, calls him a “great treasure and a better wit, and he always had my back.” 

Feuer was a mentor to young journalists, says David Kaplan, co-owner of Brand Newsroom LLC. He was “the editor every journalist wants: tough and compassionate, and smart and fun as hell,” Kaplan says.

“During my job interview [at Adweek], he asked, ‘Do you know what a media reporter does?’” Kaplan recalls. “I thought for a second. ‘Covers the media, I guess!’ I said with a shrug. He took that as an opportunity to explain the history of D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, the unbundling of media, and who Irwin Gotlieb is. He told the story of how advertising is bought and sold and measured. And he inspired me to want to tell those stories.

“The job changed my life as a person as well as my career. I'm forever indebted to Jack for the great career I was given, and the friendship he gave me in addition,” says Kaplan.

Kathy Sampey, another fellow former Adweek colleague, stayed in touch with Feuer after they both left Adweek.

“Jack was very warm-hearted and cared about people,” says Sampey, a communications consultant and writer at TKS Media. “What made him a good boss was that he was always in good humor and always willing to help you if you were struggling with anything. Reporters and editors sometimes have contentious run-ins during the editing process, and I had a few with Jack, but they were always forgotten once the story was finished.” 

On a personal note, I worked with Feuer at Adweek. Similar to what others have mentioned, I felt like he always had my back, no matter what the situation. Like the best bosses, he brought out the best in me. My heart goes out to his family.

Feuer with his son Alex and daughter-in-law Molly.