Jack Limpert
John Arthur Limpert (March 15, 1934 – September 19, 2024) was an American journalist who was editor-in-chief of the Washingtonian for more than 40 years and is credited with shaping the city magazine format.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]Limpert was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and had four older sisters.[1] His father was a paper mill executive who died when he was 10, while his mom managed the house.[1] He initially enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, majoring in chemical engineering, but dropped out after a year.[1] He then joined the Air Force, but after a seizure, was assigned to be a clerk and typist.[1]
After two years in the Air Force, Limpert returned to the University of Wisconsin and earned his bachelor's degree in 1959.[1] He then attended Stanford Law School, but once again dropped out after a year.[1]
Career
[edit]Limpert started working for United Press International in 1960 and spent four years there, working in various Midwest bureaus.[1] In 1967 he came to Washington, D.C., to spend a year working for Vice President Hubert Humphrey in a political science fellowship.[1]
Washingtonian
[edit]Limpert started as editor-in-chief of the Washingtonian on January 15, 1969.[3] Michael Schaffer would later describe the magazine at that time as "almost a parody of the New Yorker".[1] The publisher, Laughlin Phillips, gave Limpert "a free hand to shape the magazine".[4]
Limpert pioneered having an annual guide of the top doctors in Washington, which as of 2012, was still the best selling issue.[5]
In 1974, Limpert correctly identified the identity of key Watergate source "Deep Throat" as Mark Felt, the then-deputy director of the FBI.[4] He credited the scandal with making the city more gossipy: "Twenty-five years ago, there was no gossip, but Watergate, Woodward and Bernstein changed all that. Now there is no private life. If you're important enough, journalists will do anything."[3]
Limpert described the Washingtonian's role to The New York Times as: "[Washington] is always changing - it's a city of ambition and education, and people are forever rising up the ladder. A part of what we do is try to tell people who is on the ladder, who is going up and who is going down".[6]
The Washington Post described Limpert's low point as October 1991, when the Washingtonian settled three lawsuits in a few months.[1]
He stepped down as editor-in-chief in 2009, handing the reins over to Garrett Graff.[5] Limpert continued on as an editor at large, performing line edits on every story that would be published until 2012, when he transitioned to being a writer at large.[4][5]
During Limpert's tenure, the Washingtonian won five National Magazine Awards.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Limpert's marriage to Jocelyn Minarik ended in a divorce; they had one son together.[1] In 1975, he married Jean Vincent, with whom he had two daughters.[1][4]
He died on September 19, 2024, at the age of 90.[1][4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Smith, Harrison (September 21, 2024). "Jack Limpert, longtime editor of Washingtonian magazine, dies at 90". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ Shafer, Jack [@jackshafer] (September 19, 2024). "Jack Limpert helped invent the city magazine. RIP" (Tweet). Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Brozan, Nadine (January 15, 1994). "Chronicle". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Means, Howard (September 19, 2024). "Jack Limpert, Longtime Editor of Washingtonian, Dies at Age 90". Washingtonian. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Farhi, Paul (March 27, 2012). "Washingtonian editor at large Jack Limpert steps down". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Gamarekian, Barbara (February 20, 1989). "Many Opinions Flourish In the Political Hothouse". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2024.