Thomas J. Slattery, for many years the editorial leader ofNational Underwriter, passed away on May 14 of respiratoryfailure at the age of 68.

Mr. Slattery started with The National Underwriter Company inMarch 1967 as a staff writer. He rose through the ranks to serve asManaging Editor, running the day-to-day news operation of both theproperty and casualty and life and health editions of theNU weeklies.

He later served as Editor inChief and Executive Editor of both editions, and was publisher ofthe newsweeklies for a time as well. For many years he chairedNU's Editorial Committee, writing most of the magazine'slead opinion pieces. Late in his career, he wrote his own columnfor NU.

“Tom Slattery was the guiding force recreating NationalUnderwriter from a routine trade magazine into a vibrant,dynamic, modern business-to-business news organization,” said SamFriedman, NU's current Editor In Chief, who worked underMr. Slattery for 20 years. (For Mr. Friedman's personal reflectionson Mr. Slattery's legacy, see page 5.)

“Tom implemented our first beat system of market specialists,launched a number of ambitious redesigns and boldly expandedNU's core audience by adding a consumer element–riskmanagers–to our historic circulation base of insurance carriers,agents and brokers,” he said.

Mr. Friedman added that “Tom's gift was putting good people inplace and trusting his instincts that they could carry the ball,fostering a team mentality. He was also fiercely protective ofNU's editorial integrity, with no sacred cows sparedduring his long career as an editorial writer and columnist.”

Mr. Slattery left the company at the end of 2001, and went on towork as an editor, freelance writer and columnist for a number ofinsurance publications–including Insurance Journal andRisk & Insurance–as part of his portfolio as managingdirector at Slattery-Esterkamp Communications in Baldwin, N.Y.

Mr. Slattery is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Esterkamp, andhis son, Mark. Ms. Esterkamp has asked that donations be made inhonor of Mr. Slattery to the American Cancer Society.

Mr. Slattery was a graduate in English and philosophy fromFordham University, where he also studied law.

In addition, he completed the American Management Association'sManagement Course, the Stanford University Professional PublishingCourse and the Xavier University course in Professional Management.He was also a member of the editorial committee of AmericanBusiness Press (now American Business Media).