I was stunned this morning to learn that Vermont’s AP Chief John Curran, 54, had apparently died of a sudden heart attack yesterday while mowing his lawn.  

Even though Curran was an award-winning journalist with a 20-year history of hard-hitting stories, he remained connected to his community and appeared able to uncover the human side of every story.  

I had just finished reading an excellent and touching piece that he had written about the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene in Vermont that was published in yesterday’s Rutland Herald and was reflecting upon John’s ability to capture the human spirit, when I read that he had died.

We (Arnie and I – at Fairewinds) get a lot of press calls with questions about nuclear power especially in light of the Fukushima nuclear accidents this year.  Since most papers have evening deadlines or industry press releases come at the end of a regular business day, we often find supper or our evenings filled with press phone calls. John was one of those reporters who was always warm, communicative, and respectful and cognizant of the fact that we are not paid for any of our time answering press questions.  Some reporters have been so disrespectful that there are times I don’t even bother to answer their calls.  Not so with John Curran or AP’s Vermont office, as their contact has always been very respectful and even-handed.

A brief story about Curran from AP is on the wire via CBS.  I hope a more thorough Vermont-centric piece will be written in the coming days.

I spent five years as a newspaper journalist.  I know that journalists with John Curran’s ability to get to the heart of a story and touch the human spirit are rare.  

Condolences from GMD to John’s family and his colleagues at AP in Vermont.

I hope others will write in to share their memories of John Curran.