Burt Freireich

Burt Freireich was a wordsmith, a journalist, an editor, editorial writer, columnist and publisher. Accuracy and precision in the written word were things he strived for and demanded. Burt died March 29. He would want you to say he died, not that he reached his last holy reward or met his maker. That’s what he always said of the obituary as a journalistic form. Burt accomplished much in his years as a writer and the co-owner and publisher of the Daily News-Sun in Sun City from 1960 to 1984.

Burt edited and wrote sports for the daily Phoenix Gazette in the 1950s. Burt owned the Westside Enterprise for a short time in Avondale, along with the Glendale News. He was chairman of the board of the West Valley View. Burt was president of the Arizona Newspapers Association in 1973, president of the International Society of Newspaper Editors in 1968-69, a Golden Dozen editorial award winner and, along with his wife, Ursula, ISWNE’s Cervi Award winner in 2008, an award given for lifetime achievement in journalism. Burt also was in charge of editorial critiques for a number of years for ISWNE.

What stood out in his mind in recent years was his time as a soldier in the 309th Infantry, 78th Division in Europe during World War II. Earlier in the war, he had guarded Italian prisoners of war at Papago Park outside of Phoenix. Burt was home on leave when the great prisoner escape happened prompting him to tell his mother that the whole place fell apart when he left. He volunteered to go overseas. Those memories were the last to leave him perhaps because they left such an impact on him. He experienced death of comrades and enemies and a concussion that ended his time on the battlefield at the Bridge at Remagen, Germany. He kept those memories bottled up until years later when a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News interviewed Burt and other members of the 78th Division for the story. Burt wrote about some of the men he served with for a Memorial Day column that was originally published in the News-Sun and is now reprinted every year in the West Valley View. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

Burt was born in Oak Park, Ill., April 5, 1925. He was a graduate of the journalism school at the University of Illinois. He was a lifelong Cubs fan attending his first game at age 7 with his father. His father was a gambler, even betting on balls and strikes out in the bleacher seats. Other relatives, Big Chickie and Little Chickie, owned a cigar shop in Chicago that was a front for a bookie joint. One day, someone actually bought a cigar there and Burt was sure he was surprised when he lit it up what was such an old cigar.

Burt also loved thoroughbred race horses, betting on the ponies and even owning race horses.

He is survived by a son, Elliott (Marquita); granddaughters, Rachael and Marissa Freireich; daughter, Debbie Kipp; grandson, Jesse Kipp (Kendall); one great grand-son Seeley; brother, Stan; and sister, Betty. He was predeceased by his wife, Ursula, and his sister, Thelma Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, April 7, 2017 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ.