Friends,

Let's capture some of why we loved Wilke so much. As one friend of his put it:

"...write up an anecdote – some story where they watched Wilke build up into righteous anger when reporting a story... or ironing out a crease in the fabric of the Journal bureau... And someone should talk about him tearing up when he described taking his kid to college…..Or when he became nearly inconsolable when the anthrax story came back and cost him two fantastic seats at the Nats-Mets game. Describe a time he filled in for people, picked up their loads for them, counseled them, slipped them incredible sources, shared bylines... that will keep him alive and you (and the rest of us) afloat."

Post comments or photos here.

20090527

A privilege

As a reporter covering M&A at Reuters in the 1990s, John Wilke regularly astounded me with his ass-kicking scoops from the antitrust beat. I didn't know him, but I simultaneously admired him and hated him for it. When I joined the Journal in 2001, I was in awe of the fact that I would actually get the chance to know him and work with him. He'd call up in the morning and say "Hey, Sidel. Wilke. Hey, so I talked to his guy......" and we'd be off. I will never forget how handsome he looked when he showed up in a tux at a dear friend's wedding. We sat next to each other, laughing and gossiping the night away.

It was a privilege to know him.

--Robin Sidel
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