Noel Greenwood, retired senior editor at LA Times was 75 *

Noel Greenwood was the editor in charge of local and California coverage at the Los Angeles Times during the 1980s and some of the '90s, I believe. He hired scores if not hundreds of the journalists who passed through the Times and went on to populate newsrooms around the world. Greenwood died today at his home in Santa Barbara, according to his daughter Diana. He had battled prostate cancer in recent years and was under hospice care when he died. Some former colleagues were able to visit with him on Saturday.

Greenwood rose to be I think the number three editor at the Times, with the title of senior editor, before leaving. He was a former education reporter and had overseen the paper's education coverage for many years. Since leaving the Times Greewnood was a book editor who helped several journalists and other authors get their books into print.

Author David Freed, a friend and a former colleague of Greenwood's and mine at the Times, just posted on Facebook: "Los Angeles Times friends and former colleagues: editor Noel Greenwood died shortly after midnight today at his home in Santa Barbara, where he'd been battling prostate cancer. He was 76. Noel's daughter, Diana, said his passing was peaceful. There are no plans for services at this time, but that may change...Noel shaped the careers of hundreds of journalists, including mine. I feel privileged to have known him as a friend."

I was one of those who Noel hired. He was a top-rate journalist, a good friend of LA Observed through the years, and a great guy.

Update: The LA Times obit published Monday gives a birthdate that makes Noel 75.