* Tribune…

Jack Conaty brought a talent for concise and impactful writing, an acerbic wit and a willingness to help his colleagues to his work as political reporter at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 for more than two decades.

“He had a razor-sharp political insight and a concision in writing — the man did not waste a word,” said former WFLD reporter Lilia Chacon. “He just cut to the crux of the (matter) and he did it in a way that was illuminating. We were in awe of his writing skills.”

Conaty, 77, died of complications from cancer on Aug. 28 at a hospital in Tucson, Arizona, said his daughter, Katherine. He had lived in Tucson for the last decade or so and previously had lived in Kennebunk, Maine. after leaving WFLD, which now is known as Fox 32. Prior to that, he had resided in River North and Wilmette. […]

In 1987, Conaty was hired to be political reporter at WFLD, which at that time was launching a nightly news operation. Conaty covered both national and local political stories, including interviewing leaders like Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro, and attended seven presidential conventions.

Jack’s contract wasn’t renewed at the end of 2009. I wrote at the time that I really liked the guy and that his departure was “another major blow to quality political journalism.”

Not long after that, I ran into Jack at WBEZ reporter Carlos Hernandez Gomez’s funeral.

Jack said he wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but also confided that he was irritated by Fox News Corp., which had taken over WFLD TV. He said he regularly felt pressured to follow the party line, and that just didn’t sit right with someone of Jack Conaty’s integrity. Jack was no flaming liberal, but he wanted to do his job in the most honest way he could.

* I don’t know why, but for the past couple of weeks I’d been thinking about Jack and wondering where he was and how I wanted to tell him that I missed him. Jack’s passing is another reminder that you shouldn’t wait to tell someone what they mean to you.

Rest in peace, Jack. You did good.