WSJ reporter/editor Portlock dies after brain injury

Wall Street Journal editor in chief Gerard Baker sent out the following announcement on Tuesday:

I’m deeply saddened to tell you that Sarah Portlock, our colleague who suffered a brain injury in March while pregnant with her daughter, died suddenly yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Sam, and daughter, Aviva, who is beautiful, healthy and home with her father. Aviva recently dressed as Cinderella for Halloween, a costume that I’m told Sarah helped to pick out.

Sarah will be remembered by colleagues in Washington and New York as a warm and kind colleague, a friendly face for new employees; the organizer of cards and gifts when someone had a new baby or got married; the planner of team-building happy hours; and the cheerleader of friends and colleagues when they landed a big scoop, finished a big project or received some recognition for work well done. Sarah will be remembered by all for her thoughtfulness and her collegiality.

Sarah joined The Wall Street Journal in June 2012 as an economics reporter, where she developed deep friendships with a number of colleagues. Her digital talents landed her at the center of the Pro Central Banking launch in 2015, where she served as a producer for the Federal Reserve and economics teams. She was also central to the launch of Pro Financial Regulation in February 2016. In September 2016, she moved to New York as Day Editor, where she was an essential part of our newsroom, a terrific and valued colleague, and a delightful presence on the desk.

Sarah came to us from The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., where she covered real estate and economic development. She held a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree from New York University.

We’ll provide additional information as it becomes available about how we may offer some practical help to the family. A YouCaring page that colleagues set up to support Sarah and her family is still a lovely way to provide for the family directly: https://www.youcaring.com/sarahsamandavivafellman-799378.

Gerry