The City Newspaper staff
mourns the loss of our talented young reporter, Tarek Tannous, who died on
Sunday, June 12.
Tarek had waged a lengthy, determined battle against
leukemia. At his funeral at Blessed Sacrament Church earlier this week, he was
described as a strong young man. He was, indeed. Strong, and courageous, and
optimistic in the face of debilitating, difficult treatment, pain, and
discouraging news. This was a cancer he had licked once, and he was confident
that he would lick it again.
Tarek was an editor’s dream: eager, ethical, bright, kind,
sensitive, curious, persistent, and a strong writer. He was a delight to be
around, and a joy to work with. A newcomer to Rochester, he brought to us his experience
as a reporter for a daily newspaper in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and
immediately immersed himself in the governmental structures and culture of
Upstate New York. He was blessed with strong journalistic instincts, and he had
a rich, rewarding career ahead of him.
We are grieved that he was denied that career, and that the
Rochester community is denied the benefit of his insight and talent. We miss
him, and extend our heartfelt sympathy to those who miss him most, his devoted
family.
This article appears in Jun 22-28, 2005.
