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Rick Orlov of the Daily News died today of diabetes complications, the paper announced this afternoon. He was 66 and had been slowed by diabetes, the surgical removal of some toes and the need for dialysis in recent years — but still held forth most days in his pressroom office on the third floor of Los Angeles City Hall, and continued to cover stories across downtown and around the city. He reported on five mayors, from Tom Bradley to Eric Garcetti, and mentored a legion of young reporters after moving onto the City Hall beat for good in 1988. He had joined the Daily News a decade earlier from Copley News Service and the Cal State Northridge journalism department. Rick was a local boy — born in Chicago, his family moved to Encino when he was 12 and he went to Birmingham High School.
Orlov's Sausage Factory blog and Monday Tipoff columns in the Daily News were must reads in the LA political world. He probably had sources on every floor of City Hall, where he was trusted as a reporter who got things right and understood what was really going on. That's not always a given.
The tributes from reporters and politicos began pouring in as soon as the news was posted by the Daily News. At KCRW, we junked our recorded LA Observed segment for the day and went with a live conversation about Rick between me and "All Things Considered" host Steve Chiotakis. Here's the audio.
Longtime @ladailynews staff writer @Rickorlov, aka the "dean of City Hall," passed away today #RIP
— L.A. Daily News (@ladailynews) February 2, 2015A true journalist, a great bellwether for news and for the right thing to do. We will miss our good friend @Rickorlov pic.twitter.com/fHcoq41R8z
— Carolina Garcia (@cgmetro) February 2, 2015Statement from @ericgarcetti on the passing of @Rickorlov, the Dean of the City Hall Press Corps. pic.twitter.com/K7D030aYQh
— LA Mayor's Office (@LAMayorsOffice) February 3, 2015City Council president Herb Wesson says he will introduce motion Tuesday to name Council’s Media Room in Rick Orlov's memory.
— Dakota Smith (@dakotacdsmith) February 3, 2015A salute to journalist @Rickorlov of @ladailynews. Rest in Peace. http://t.co/OgVxVCLBk1
— Marc Brown (@ABC7Marc) February 3, 2015RIP Rick Orlov. Good guy, good reporter. http://t.co/2NkXdIqI9C
— Josh Mankiewicz (@JoshMankiewicz) February 3, 2015Any reporter assigned to L.A. City Hall in recent decades knows this: @rickorlov was a true gentleman. He will be missed.
— David Zahniser (@DavidZahniser) February 3, 2015A truly sad day. @rickorlov was a friend and mentor to all of us lucky enough to cover City Hall.
— Alice Walton (@TheCityMaven) February 3, 2015Dean of City Hall's last story in today's @ladailynews. How dearly you'll be missed @Rickorlov pic.twitter.com/hmMbyKy6Vd
— Laura Greanias (@LauraGreanias) February 3, 2015So sad to hear the news of Rick Orlov's passing. He was a solid journalist, a generous friend and a good man. He made Los Angeles better.
— Jim Newton (@newton_jim) February 3, 2015RIP my dear friend #RickOrlov. A gentleman, fine journalist, deep-hearted person, Quinn Award winner, chef. Godspeed pic.twitter.com/FI4CWwN7jF
— Jill Stewart (@jillstewart) February 3, 2015This is heartbreaking. Rick was the classiest, most generous reporter I've ever worked with. http://t.co/rWPwt8lCXn
— Kerry Cavanaugh (@kerrycavan) February 3, 2015So sad to hear about the passing of @Rickorlov. It will be impossible to fill his chair at LA City Hall.
— Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) February 3, 2015So so sorry to hear of @Rickorlov 's death. He was a great reporter and a wonderful colleague when we toiled together at the LA Daily News.
— Robin Abcarian (@robinabcarian) February 3, 2015Our condolences for the loss of the Dean of #LACityHall Reporter @Rickorlov. A true professional and honest journalist. He will be missed.
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) February 3, 2015In 1995 I wrote an @LAWeekly profile on Jack Smith & @Rickorlov called my 25-year-old self to say he liked it. Will never forget that. RIP.
— Mary Melton (@MaryMeltonLA) February 3, 2015I will miss Rick Orlov. He spent his career shining light into the sausage factory that it is City Hall. And he was a genuinely nice guy.
— eric spillman (@ericspillman) February 3, 2015