Robert Licata’s Legacy: The media landscape

Professor Robert Licata

Robert Licata had a pistol of a sense of humor. I used to sit in his office, close the door, year after year - and he would tear into my daily complaints with a witty breath of fresh air. He’d give me a dose of sympathy and then change the subject to the latest breaking news story or tell me about the next vacation he was planning with his wife Paula.

A consumate journalist and professor at Hofstra University,  (click here to read the article in Newsday) he carried his love of news media into the classroom. Today a bunch of us old news buddies exchanged stories about Robert with some of his students. He was probably alongside us,  listening in as our conversations, not surprisingly - lead to the media landscape.

In huddled groups, many of us discussed Robert’s love of media and in fact that even in his passing, media played a role. News of Robert’s departure spread like wildfire as students and colleagues remembered Robert on Facebook and even Twitter. I think he would have gotten a kick out of that. He had a dry sense of humor.

Media was Robert’s canvas and the meat of entertaining conversations. Politics, the arts, his brother’s showbiz antics in LA, the direction of media in our ever-changing world were topics of interest. That along with whether he approved of my hairstyle on any particular day. The guy had a good eye and knew a lot - about a lot of things. His mind and heart flowed with creative juices. And when he moved from News 12 Long Island to teach at Hofstra, he shared his wisdom with countless students who benefitted from his experience. As his wife Paula has described him, “He was a good man with a good heart.”

Now, in remembering Robert and his legacy, Hofstra University has set up a special fund in his name: The Professor Robert Licata Memorial Scholarship

You can make a contribution on line at  www.hofstra.edu/giving. Be sure to designate his fund, when you fill out the donor information. It only took me a few minutes to complete. There’s more information to mail a contribution to Hostra at Laurie Bloom’s Facebook site. She was a colleague and friend who called Robert one of ” God’s kindest, funniest, most unique masterpieces.”

May you have a safe journey my friend, you will be greatly missed.