Opinions published in 5/15/05 edition of The Record:
Regarding the headline for the story about last week's municipal election in Hackensack ("Dead candidate elected," Page A-1, May 11):
I am aware that headlines are often useful in selling newspapers. At times, they also do a disservice to the heart of the story and cause injury to the people connected to it and to your readership.
It was extremely painful to me and many of my colleagues at Hackensack High School to read of Principal Joseph DeFalco as a dead person who was elected to a public office. I imagine many of our students, their families and a very large segment of not only Hackensack's population who knew him or knew of him (and even your general readership) were similarly shocked and outraged at what I would hope is an isolated case of poor judgment.
Joe was an extremely caring and dedicated professional educator, colleague and member of the Hackensack community. He loved his students; he was tirelessly accessible to them. He encouraged staff and led it in fostering a family-like working environment that could be a model for many high schools.
The headline traded the richness of Joe's life and presence in Hackensack and the high school for what I experienced as a deep insult. It seemed to me to be shoddy sensationalism.
You handled the story of Joe as principal thoughtfully and appropriately with two articles elsewhere in the paper. But how do you think his family and many close friends might feel about the front-page headline?
I believe many of your readers would appreciate (and even be impressed with) a published acknowledgement of your lapse and regret.
Larry W. Gingold
Hackensack, May 12
The writer is school psychologist for Hackensack High School.
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I was appalled by your headline "Dead candidate elected" (Page A-1, May 11) in your story about municipal elections in Hackensack.
You trivialized the life of Hackensack High School Principal Joseph DeFalco with an article about his politics, which is just a small part of what he was all about.
Joe DeFalco achieved so much during his almost 40-year career at Hackensack High. As a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal, Mr. DeFalco touched more lives and affected more children than we will ever know. He was beloved by his students, both present and former, their parents and teachers and staff. He will be greatly missed.
You have shown that although you are based in Hackensack, you really have no hometown allegiance.
Mary Ellen Waanders
Maywood, May 11
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I was appalled to see the headline on the news story relating the untimely passing of Hackensack High School Principal Joseph DeFalco ("Dead man elected," Page A-1, May 11).
There are so many other headlines that could have graced this story. Instead, you published a headline that was hurtful to all the people who mourn his passing. It was crass, it was low, and it was demeaning and thoughtless. It is typical of a low-grade scandal sheet.
Your newspaper owes a public apology to Mr. DeFalco's family, his supporters in the recent Hackensack election and, most of all, to all the children he affected in a positive manner as coach and principal.
Audrey Koran
Hackensack, May 12