Craig Stanke spent 14 years as an editor at what would become CBSSports.com and more than three decades contributing to sports journalism as a reporter and editor at newspapers from Florida to California and back. His passion for the written word and the major stories he helped shape were just small part of the legacy.
Friends and colleagues remembered him as a giving mentor whose impact was felt far beyond the scope of his own job.
Stanke, the deputy managing editor at CBSSports.com, died in his sleep at age 56 Tuesday. An avid runner, he had competed in a 5K run on Memorial Day then reported to work in the afternoon. A cause and exact time of death was not yet known, and funeral arrangements still were to be determined.
Stanke’s career included stops at the Palm Beach Post, Los Angeles Times, Florida Times Union, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, Fort Lauderdale News, Jupiter (Fla.) Daily Journal, Clearwater (Fla.) Sun, Bradenton (Fla.) Herald and Beloit (Ill.) Daily News.
CBSSports.com managing editor Mark Swanson: "He brought journalistic expertise and sound judgment to a fledgling website that gravely needed it, and then helped shape the vision and voice of the site into what it is today. Craig would often say he wanted to retire here. He loved the job, he loved the people. So on behalf of friends, family and co-workers, past and present, I offer this: We loved you, too, Craig. And we miss you.”
CBSSports.com columnist Gregg Doyel: "Stanke gave and he gave and he gave. I think all of us who received, I think we all knew he was a special man. But I don't think we had we had any idea. Maybe now we'll understand better the man — and be inspired to give to others as Craig Stanke gave to us." More of Doyel's blog post here:
Los Angeles Times columnist TJ Simers: “He was a genius. A newspaper genius and there aren't many of those anymore — newspapers or newspaper geniuses. Craig never met a stranger, as folks like to say. He was the guy most likely to be playing a banjo at a party. He ran cross-country in high school because someone had to. I hired him 35 years ago this week out of the University of Wisconsin. How cool is it to be able to hire someone who will become your best friend? Almost immediately he won a writing award, and to no surprise I ended up working for him at The Times' San Diego and Orange County editions. Craig could have been a terrific writer, but he touched so many more by becoming an outstanding teacher as a newspaper editor.
CBSSports.com senior baseball columnist Scott Miller: “His title was Deputy Sports Editor, which barely scratched the surface. He was that rarest of modern species: A man who brilliantly combined old-school journalism instincts with modern, digital-age ability. Nobody cared about this business more, and by this business, I mean reporters, people, stories, the finished product and individual words. …His legacy will be enduring in the stories, the laughs, the memories, the words.”
Here is the tribute thread on the website SportsJournalists.com.
