Allan Johnson

A former colleague, Chicago Tribune staff reporter Allan Johnson, died on Friday night of a brain hemorrhage. He was 46. He fell ill three weeks ago without warning, apparently of an aneurysm, and had been in the hospital, with good days and bad, ever since. His daugher was born eight months ago. I didn't know Allan very well, but I talked about him virtually every day during my time at the Tribune. He was my predecessor on the television beat--he was always extremely helpful in showing me the ropes and putting me in touch with the right people when I needed help--and without fail, every regular TV source or publicity contact I ever called asked after Allan. He was enormously well-liked, and it's unspeakably sad.