Nov 28, 2009

Mike Penner dead at 52

Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner has died. He was 52. The apparent cause of death is suicide.

Penner made headlines in 2007 when he announced he was a transsexual and began writing under the byline "Christine Daniels". In 2008, he reclaimed the "Mike Penner" byline.

Here's Times editor Russ Stanton's memo to staff on Penner's passing:
Colleagues:

I am very saddened to report that Mike Penner, whose work graced our pages for two-and-a-half decades, passed away last night.

We've posted a short story on the site this morning http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/ and a longer piece will follow for both the web and tomorrow's paper.


Mike was a first-rate journalist, a valued member of our staff and we will miss him. He respected our readers a great deal, enough to share with them his very personal journey. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

2 comments:

Mike Rappaport said...

One of the saddest of all stories, one I would imagine Mike Penner probably wished he hadn't shared with the world.

So many of us are still so intolerant toward anything different that I'm sure Mike had a very difficult time as Christine Daniels.

God rest his soul.

Anonymous said...

heartbreaking. this is so sad. maybe now he can be in peace. RIP Mike!!!