Very sad news for the start of the new year: Another crossword legend, Maura Jacobson, recently passed away. I was on vacation when I first learned of the news on Facebook. Although I never met Maura, I remember signing a large get well card for her at my first American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in 2012. She wasn't able to attend that year, and I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to meet her. Later, I hoped to have a chance to talk to her about crosswords and perhaps interview her for this blog, but by then she was too ill. For more on Maura, see Will Shortz's moving tribute, "Remembering Maura Jacobson," and this obituary in The Times, or click here and here and scroll down. Rest in peace, Maura.
Happy New Year, everyone—as promised, here are a few cruciverbal treats to start the year off right!
Crossw_rd Magazine Cornucopia
Some of you may have read the previous articles I've posted on Scribd from Crossw_rd Magazine. I still have a treasure trove of them left that I've been meaning to put up for some time. One of my New Year's resolutions was to post them all, and since things will get busy once school starts up again, I've done it in one fell swoop—enjoy!
Mike Shenk
First up is legendary constructor and editor Mike Shenk, whose 1996 profile was written by Marilynn Huret—click here to read it. Mike, now crossword editor of The Wall Street Journal, was then editor of Games Magazine. Mike has published at least one pre-Shortzian puzzle in The New York Times and seven Shortz-era puzzles.
Mike Shenk. Photo copyright 1996, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSSW-RD Magazine.
Mel Rosen
Crossword luminary Mel Rosen is profiled by Alex Vaughn in this 1994 article, which you can read by clicking here. Author of the classic Random House Puzzlemaker's Handbookand former editor of The Crosswords Club, Mel has published at least 24 pre-Shortzian Times puzzles and 14 in the Shortz era.
Mel Rosen. Photo copyright 1994, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSSW-RD Magazine.
Manny Nosowsky
Manny Nosowsky, one of the most prolific constructors ever, is profiled by Alex Vaughn in this 1994 piece—click here to read it. Manny, whose first career was as a urologist, has published at least 8 pre-Shortzian New York Times puzzles and 246 Shortz-era puzzles.
Manny Nosowsky. Photo copyright 1994, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSS- W-RD Magazine.
Randolph Ross
Randolph (or Randy) Ross, another prolific constructor, is profiled by Helene Hovanec in this 1993 article, which you can see here. Randy, also a longtime high school principal, has published at least 2 pre-Shortzian Times puzzles and 101 in the Shortz era.
Randolph Ross. Photo copyright 1993, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSS- W-RD Magazine.
Maura Jacobson
Celebrated crossword constructor and editor Maura Jacobson is profiled by Helene Hovanec in this 1993 article—to read it, click here. Maura, who was honored with the first MERL Memorial Award in 2016 for lifetime achievement, published at least 63 pre-Shortzian Times crosswords and 3 in the Shortz era.
Maura Jacobson. Photo copyright 1993, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSS- W-RD Magazine.
Nancy Nicholson Joline
Nancy Nicholson Joline, who had her very first crossword accepted by Eugene T. Maleska, is the subject of this 1995 profile by Marilynn Huret—click here to read it. Nancy published at least 61 pre-Shortzian puzzles in The New York Times and 48 in the Shortz era.
Nancy Nicholson Joline. Photo copyright 1995, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSS- W-RD Magazine.
A. J. Santora
Another hugely prolific constructor (and, appropriately enough, constructor of homes), A. J. Santora is profiled by Helene Hovanec in this 1994 article, which you can read here. A. J. had at least 185 pre-Shortzian Times puzzles published and 68 in the Shortz era.
A. J. Santora. Photo copyright 1994, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSS- W-RD Magazine.
Karen Hodge (Karen Young Bonin)
Karen Hodge (aka Karen Young Bonin) is the subject of this 1994 profile by Helene Hovanec, which you can read here. A longtime high school French teacher who started the Connecticut Shoreline crossword contest, Karen published at least 2 pre-Shortzian puzzles in The New York Times and 11 in the Shortz era.
Karen Hodge. Photo copyright 1994, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSSW-RD Magazine.
Cathy Millhauser (Cathy Allis)
Another renowned punster, Cathy Millhauser (aka Cathy Allis) is profiled in this 1994 article by Alex Vaughn—to read it, click here. Cathy has published at least 4 pre-Shortzian Times puzzles and 84 in the Shortz era.
Cathy Millhauser. Photo copyright 1994, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Re- printed by permission of Stan Chess and CROSSW-RD Magazine.
Obituaries: Will Weng, Eugene T. Maleska, and Jordan S. Lasher
Several noteworthy obituaries appeared in CROSSW_ORD Magazine, including this lengthy joint one on Will Weng and Eugene T. Maleska, who both passed away the same unfortunate year. Written by Helene Hovanec in 1993, it can be read here.
Will Weng (left) and Eugene T. Maleska (right). Photo copyright 1993, 2017, Megalo Media, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Stan Chess and CROSS- W-RD Magazine.
Two years later, a short but informative obituary on Jordan S. Lasher appeared without a byline—to read it, click here. Jordan passed away at an early age (48), having published at least 60 pre-Shortzian puzzles in The New York Times. A chemical engineer, he created the "world's hardest puzzle" for a bookstore contest.
Some time ago New York Times constructor and Pre-Shortzian Puzzle Project volunteer Barry Silk wrote to me about a great find. He'd been watching some old What's My Line? videos and discovered this one with an appearance by Jack Luzzatto, one of the most creative and prolific pre-Shortzian constructors ever. Jack appears at approximately 20:45 in the video; to see it, click on the link above or watch it below. Terrific find—thanks so much again, Barry!
Todd also found articles on pre-Shortzian and Shortz-era constructors Derrick Niederman and Merl Reagle that are now linked to here and on the Pre-Shortzian Constructors page. Thanks, Todd!
That's it for now—I look forward to seeing many of you at the ACPT and in the meantime wish everyone a happy and puzzle-filled 2017!
