Shine On!
April 7, 2007
Thank you for the extensive coverage of the life of Neal Shine. I remember those wonderful days when Neal and Joe Stroud were the core of the Free Press. We have now lost two extraordinary and terrific people. Both of them had a perfect sense for what was truly important and what we were required to do about it. We are richer because they touched our lives.
Harvey S. Bronstein
Southfield

An inspiration
The Detroit Orientation Institute at Wayne State University probably wouldn't exist were it not for Neal Shine. His encouragement, advice, involvement and support helped make this resource for newly arrived journalists and others a reality.
After the first DOI program in 1991, with 19 journalists from local print and electronic outlets as participants, Neal called me. He said, "I heard that at the end of your three-day program, my Freep staffers gave you a standing ovation. Reporters and editors never give anyone a standing ovation. What the hell did you do with them?"
We gave them a no-holds barred look at Detroit and the metro region, inspired by Neal's insights and example. He was one-of-a-kind, and he left an indelible mark not only on the DOI but on all the realities that the DOI seeks to illuminate for those who continue to go through its programs today.
Elaine C. Driker
Founding Director Detroit Orientation Institute

Champion for children
One of my favorite sayings is "The world is run by the people who show up." Neal Shine definitely did show up for children in Detroit. His "Children First" campaign began with strength and activism. It involved the entire community in critical issues involving children, including juvenile incarceration, child care wages, adoption, school services and, his particularly favorite issues, reading and literacy.
Let one of the strongest parts of Neal Shine's legacy be a reinvigoration of the Children First campaign. Be a leader again in championing children's issues by letting people know that when it comes to children, the Free Press does run the world by showing up. Create change by participating and encouraging engagement by readers.
Wendy Shepherd
Clinton Township

The good old days
When somebody mentions the "good old days," the first thing that comes to mind is picking up the Free Press in the morning and reading Neal Shine, followed by driving to work listening to J.P. McCarthy. People like that are indeed among the good things in life. Though he is still with us, Ernie Harwell belongs in that pantheon. Let's count our remaining blessings and pray for long life for both Mitch Albom and Dick Purtan.
Joseph F. Derkowski
Milford

Personal touch
It was more than two decades ago that Neal Shine wrote a column about my younger brother and me. At the time, my brother, Todd Mitchell was finishing a stellar career as an All-American basketball player at Purdue. He was team captain and went on to play in the NBA. I was a television news reporter here in Detroit on WXYZ-TV.
I don't know how he knew that the two of us were related. He called me on the phone and asked if I had an old photo with Todd. I sent him a silly photo that we had taken at one of those coin machines inside the mall. He published it along with a very flattering story about a brother and sister who admired each other's accomplishments.
What joy that column brought to my family. We weren't big news, but I guess he felt we were interesting enough to write about. He was indeed an outstanding journalist and all-around nice guy.
Charlene Mitchell-Rodgers
West Bloomfield

Memorable
It has been almost 30 years since I graduated from Wayne State University. I can remember only a few of my instructors there. Neal Shine still stands out in my mind as the one Christian gentleman, teacher, humorist and outstanding person I have ever met in any phase of my life. I was a disheartened Vietnam veteran when I enrolled at WSU, but I never felt that way around Neal, as he told us to call him. He made learning fun.
Neal was and is a "Shining" example of a sweet spirit. We can honor him by continuing to follow his example of caring and doing unto others.
Mike Giles
Detroit

Experience, personality shared
I am one of the many touched, inspired and helped by Neal Shine. We met in the late '70s, when Joe Stroud walked me through the Free Press offices to meet friends and colleagues who cared about mental health in Michigan.
Later, I learned about the challenges reporters, photographers and editors faced when covering trauma and tragedy. Neal helped me design and launch programs addressing these challenges. He leant his experience and his personality to a movement that eventually grew into an international network of journalists helping journalists face heartbreaking assignments.
On behalf of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, and those who have benefited directly and indirectly from this man's good humor, straight talk, warmth and wisdom, I thank friends at the Free Press for sharing Neal with the rest of us.
Frank M. Ochberg, MD
Former Director, Michigan Department of Mental Health
Chairman Emeritus, The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Remembering Neal Shine
April 4, 2007
"There's so few people you run into these days who are just good human beings, and Neal was one of those."

U.S. Appeals Court Judge Damon Keith
"Neal was the kind of supporter who never gave up on the city and despite all of its challenges -- and the same with the state, despite all the challenges the state had -- he always looked for and found a silver lining that, if adopted, would provide a way out of whatever the challenges might have been."

Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer
"He always told me to take the high road, because then you can throw rocks at the people on the low road."

Jane Briggs-Bunting, former Free Press reporter and now dean of the Michigan State University School of Journalism
"He had such a great sense of humor. ... He did not take himself too seriously. He took his job seriously, and what the mission was."

Bob Berg, former press secretary to Detroit Mayor Coleman Young
"Every time I went anywhere in the community, the first question I would be asked is: 'Where is Neal?' and then, 'How is Neal?' At one point, I finally told him, 'I'm sick of everybody asking about you. All they want to know is about you.' He said, 'When you get to be my age, they'll ask about you, too.' "

Carole Leigh Hutton, former Free Press publisher and editor, now vice president of a community newspaper company in California
"He had an open-door policy. You could call him. You could come over and talk to him. He was an editor who was accessible. And if he thought the paper had made a mistake, that someone had been treated unfairly, that someone had a legitimate beef, he saw to it that a correction was made."

U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn