Henry Acevedo, former chief copy editor of the Peninsula Daily News, died at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle early Saturday morning.
He was 62.
Acevedo died from complications related to myeloproliferative/myelodysplastic syndrome, a malignant blood disorder.
His doctors said the only cure to save his life was a bone marrow/stem cell transplant.
He left the PDN in mid-June and was was undergoing preparations for the the transplant at the time of his death.
“We who work with words are supposed to be able to find the appropriate ones all the time, but there are none to express the depth of my sadness in learning about Henry’s death,” said John Brewer, PDN editor and publisher.
“We’ve lost a good friend, a warm and gentle colleague, a man of intelligence, innate dignity, conscience and dedication to the highest ideals of journalistic service to our readers.
“We share his family’s grief — we know, too, how fortunate we were that Henry came our way.”
As chief copy editor, Acevedo edited stories, picked national and international news service articles, wrote headlines and designed the news pages. He supervised three other copy editors.
Before joining the PDN in 1999, Acevedo was assistant managing editor at the Eureka (Calif.) Times-Standard from 1990 to 1999 — much of that time when PDN Executive Editor Rex Wilson was managing editor of that newspaper.
His wife, Becky, worked for Safeway in McKinleyville, Calif., as well as the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Eureka. The couple were married at the Eureka Inn in April 2000.
Before 1990, he was managing editor of a small daily in Beaumont, Calif. — where he met Becky.
Acevedo grew up in Scottsbluff, Neb., and graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1964.
After high school, he joined the Navy and served during the Vietnam War.
Upon returning from the military, he moved to California, settling in San Diego.
Acevedo received a degree in journalism in 1971 from San Diego State University.
A more detailed funeral notice will be published at a future date when memorial services are scheduled.
