Regis, former editor at WSJ, dies at 67

Rich Regis, a former editor at The Wall Street Journal, died last week at the age of 67.

Regis had suffered from pulmonary disease related to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center near the Journal offices. Shortly after the attack, he had been hospitalized for vasculitis, a potentially fatal respiratory illness caused by dust and chemicals from the World Trade Center disaster.

After the planes hit the World Trade Center, Regis was standing next to Journal managing editor Paul Steiger outside. The Journal’s offices were across the street.

“Rich was classy, funny and bursting with knowledge,” said Journal reporter Greg Zuckerman in a message. “Oh, how he hated when I made changes on deadline. But he had such a great touch with copy and I’ll miss him so much.”

Regis had retired from the Journal in December 2016. His goodbye email simply said -30-. He had joined the Journal in 1981 from the Staten Island Register.

When he retired, Karen Pensiero, now the Journal’s managing editor, wrote, “A classy goodbye note from one of the classiest of great Wall Street Journal editors. The place won’t be the same without you, Rich Regis.”

One of his jobs at the Journal was deputy national editor.

“I was lucky enough to be one of Rich’s last bosses at the Journal,” wrote Geoffrey Rogow, global investing editor, on Twitter. “You have never met someone who cared about the product and the mission of the place more than Rich. I think of his guidance and care almost daily.”