FAIST, RUSSELL

FAIST, RUSSELL (6 Sept. 1922-5 Jan. 1990) spent the greater part of his journalistic career of 4 decades as an editor with the CATHOLIC UNIVERSE BULLETIN. The Cleveland native was the son of Edward and Helen Bringman Faist. After graduating from ST. IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL, he earned a degree in English from JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY. In 1943 he married Dorothy Jean Benes and enlisted for a 2-year stint in the U.S. Maritime Service during WORLD WAR II. Faist joined the CLEVELAND NEWS in 1945 as a copy boy, advancing to reporter and by the late 1950s to city editor. He worked on 2 award-winning series there, one on inadequate welfare relief and the other on abuses in liquor licensing. Only 2 weeks before the News folded, Faist moved to the Universe Bulletin. Soon promoted from reporter to city editor, he won 5 PRESS CLUB OF CLEVELAND awards for his columns on such topics as racial justice and world peace. From April 1986 to his retire ment the following November, he served as editor of the Catholic Press Union, publisher of the Universe Bulletin as well as sister papers in Toledo and Youngstown. Among his innovations was an updated graphic and editorial style for the Universe Bulletin. Faist died at his home in ROCKY RIVER. Buried at Lakewood Park Cemetery, he was survived by his wife and 6 children: Kathleen, Diane, Margaret, Mary, Jerome, and Frank.


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