Jack Kramer, who led the New Haven Register’s newsroom as editor for nearly two decades, passed away Tuesday following a battle with cancer.
Kramer, a University of Bridgeport graduate, was 65. He had been a journalist throughout his career. He held various positions at the Register before landing the newsroom’s top role. Over the years, he led the news staff through coverage of major events, including the Sept. 11 attacks.
After leaving the Register in 2011, he served as executive editor of the Bristol Press and New Britain Herald, and later became a freelance journalist for media outlets such as Patch and CT News Junkie.
Kramer’s journalism colleagues remembered him fondly following his passing.
Robert Storace, a reporter under Kramer at both the Register and Herald who now works at the Connecticut Law Tribune, wrote on Facebook that Kramer was “truly an inspirational man and editor and person,” who was adored by reporters.
Kramer was known for his accessibility and for getting in the trenches to get work done. He was well-liked and respected because of it, according to colleagues. For years, Kramer hosted well-attended Register reunion parties at his Branford home.
“He was a great writer and editor and even greater person,” Storace said. “He helped my career immensely. Anyone who worked with Jack will tell you the same thing — he was one of the good guys.”
Luther Turmelle, a long-time Register journalist, said of Kramer, “Jack was Mr. New Haven: Everywhere I went doing story assignments, everybody knew him or had a story about him. He was always very supportive and protective of those who worked under him.”
Mark Brackenbury, who served as managing editor of the Register under Kramer for years, called him a great mentor and journalist.
“So many of us learned so much about how to conduct ourselves from him,” Brackenbury said. “I worked with Jack for 25 years, and he was the single biggest influence on my career, as I know he was for many others. Jack always kept things in perspective. The story was important, but the way you went about getting it was more important. The people we wrote about mattered to him, as did the people doing the writing. Jack always encouraged us to ‘take the high road,’ as he always did.”
