I enjoyed the profile very much, as much for the overdue recognition of your work (and our field at large) as for the chance to brag to my copy desk about our shared Loyola connections.
Regarding the class, it may be small consolation, but at least three print journalists (if I recall correctly) came out of your fall 2003 session.

I see in the Monitor article that your head of wavy, white hair is lean and tall. Odd, it doesn't look that way in the photo that accompanies the story.

I see in the Monitor article that your head of wavy, white hair is lean and tall. Odd, it doesn't look that way in the photo that accompanies the story.
Indeed. "CSM copy editor asleep on job"

St. John's.

It's the place with the "great-cookbooks-only" curryculum, right?

Whatever happened to the scooter? I enjoyed telling my friends that my boss is so cool, he makes rounds in a scooter.

The scooter is parked in my office. With the reduction in the copy desk staff, I no longer have as much territory to cover.

"Those who do not edit do not understand the keen pleasure that comes from taking up a text and leaving it tighter, clearer, and more accurate. "

"Those who do not edit...."

I agree with you that there is a very specific pleasure in editing, that does not come in writing. And that it is hard for others to imagine it.

Part of the pleasure, for me, is to improve the work of my esteemed colleagues. I take something good they have made, and I make it better. I make sure they look good to readers--that their logic is clear, and that no typos or punctuation errors mar his reputation.

I consider copyediting to be one of the ways I serve the world. It's part of my religion--Christ called us to serve others. So, I copyedit. In order to serve both my colleagues and my readers.