"Suddenly called home to glory on Saturday, August 21, Harold Dow was 62 years old. Born in Hackensack, New Jersey and a 28 year resident of Upper Saddle River, Harold spent a decade living on the West Coast.While in Los Angeles Harold found the love of his life, Kathleen Starks, who he married in June of 1980. Their three children Joelle, Danica and David soon completed the family. He named himself the Commander in Chief and his family lovingly "fell in line." He was also affectionately called HD, Uncle Harold, Poppy, the Chief, Black Bart, Lil Liza, and Sensei to name a few. No matter what you called him, you knew he was "always in charge."Professionally, Dow was a five time Emmy Award-winning journalist who recently celebrated 40 years with CBS Network News. He began his television career in Omaha, Nebraska where he was the first African American news reporter to appear on air.He then moved to Los Angeles where he worked in the west coast bureau of the "CBS Evening News" with Walter Cronkite. Upon his return to New York in the early 8o's he co-anchored "CBS News Nightwatch." He also reported for the CBS news magazine "Street Stories," "CBS Evening News" with Dan Rather, "Sunday Morning" and the legal series "Verdict." He covered the return of POWs from Vietnam and was one of the first to report live from ground zero on 9/11.His career spanned decades and continents. He covered breaking news stories and had interviews with famous celebrities as well as politicians. He was well known as the reporter who captured first interviews with Patty Hearst and OJ Simpson. He covered Nelson Mandela's release in South Africa; Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption, and the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. Dow traveled the world covering the news from Russia to Paris, Ecuador to Lebanon.Harold received a George Foster Peabody Award for a report on runaways, a Robert F. Kennedy Award for a story on public housing, an RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, an Operation Push Excellence in Journalism Award and was recently recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists for his report on Medgar Evers which was featured in the special "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama."A member of Mt Olive Baptist Church in Hackensack, he was loved, respected and well known throughout the community. Never forgetting his small town upbringing, locals would often spot him driving "Casper," his white Bentley, in the neighborhood.He is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Kathy; A daughter Joelle Dow Ballariel (Reginald) of Katy, Texas; daughter Danica of NYC and his only son, David of Upper Saddle River. Predeceased by his father James Dow Sr. he leaves to mourn his loss, his mother Williene Dow of Hackensack, his brother and best friend Judge James Dow (Mabel) of Hackensack; sisters Delores Barnes of Hackensack, Gail (Andrew) Gandy of North Carolina, and Karen (Anthony) Williamson of Mahwah, NJ. He will also be sadly missed by his nephew and godson James Dow III, his nieces; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and brothers and sisters-in-law. Also mourning Harold's loss is his special group of fellows who shared hours of good times with him in the ACL. He will be greatly missed by his CBS family.Funeral arrangements are being handled by Earl I Jones Funeral Home, located at 3051st Street, Hackensack. Services will be at 10 AM on Saturday, August 28 at the Mount Olive Baptist Church Family Life Center, 260 Central Avenue. Entombment will follow at George Washington Memorial Cemetery in Paramus, NJ. Viewing will be Friday from 6-9 PM at the church.In lieu of flowers donations will be accepted for funding of the Harold Dow Foundation of Journalism at P.O. Box 571, Saddle River, NJ 07458."
Published in The Record and Herald News on August 25, 2010
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