James Moffatt, 80, Inquirer copy editor, professor

James "Jim" Moffatt, 80, of Riverton, N.J., a longtime Inquirer copy editor and much-beloved journalism professor at Rutgers University, died Sunday, Oct. 26, at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden.

A close friend said he had battled diabetes and heart problems for many years.

Mr. Moffatt retired in January 1997 after more than three decades as a copy editor and slot at The Inquirer, initially for news and later for business copy under a newsroom reorganization.

The last to get the story in The Inquirer's editing lineup, the slot's job is to vet the work of other copy editors and make sure mistakes are corrected before the story is released for publication.

Although he held various titles at different times - copy chief and deputy business editor were two of them - a proud moment came in 1980 when he shared in an Inquirer Pulitzer Prize for the paper's coverage of the nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island.

"Moff," as he was called, was from the old school of newspapering; he emphasized precision editing, and snappy, thought-provoking headlines designed to catch the reader's attention, said his colleague, Alan J. Heavens, the paper's residential real estate and home improvement writer.

"He was a thoughtful boss, the kind of guy who didn't think twice about giving you the shirt off his back, even if it was the only one he had," said Heavens.

"We had fun. He made us laugh. There was never a dull moment from the start to finish of our shift."

Reporters, such as Inquirer Editor William K. Marimow, welcomed his editing touch.

"As an Inquirer reporter, I always felt lucky when one of my stories landed on Jim Moffatt's desk to be edited. That's because I knew that the story would be improved, thanks to his meticulous and thoughtful editing," Marimow said.

In retirement, Mr. Moffatt let fly with a letter to the editor - literally - when a story didn't meet his high standards.

"After Jim retired, I often received letters from him lamenting one of our journalistic missteps," Marimow said. "He was a stickler for good grammar, precision in reporting and clarity in one's writing. He was a great editor and an equally excellent colleague."

At Rutgers, where he taught for 29 years, Mr. Moffatt was famous for journalism's guiding principle, which he displayed on a huge poster hung across the blackboard. "Put Yourself In the Reader's Place (PYIRP)," it declared, and Mr. Moffatt followed it to the letter. He inspired his students to do likewise; a number of them chose the newspaper business due to his influence.

Students who completed all of his journalism electives became eligible for the PYIRP award, which he gave out each year at a mock candlelight ceremony complete with buffet. Mr. Moffatt footed the bill for the meal and the PYIRP award statuettes.

Because Rutgers had no journalism department, Mr. Moffatt worked out of its English Department. He was also the advisor to the undergraduate student newspaper, the Gleaner, for many years, but didn't try to micro-manage the publication.

John Crosbie, a former student and friend who works as a circulation sales manager for Interstate General Media, said that although Mr. Moffatt's last years were marked by diabetes and heart trouble, he remained "feisty and fun to be with."

Born in Huntington, W.Va. he graduated from the Kent School in Connecticut and Columbia University. He was employed as a reporter for the now-defunct Daily News-Digest in Huntington before joining The Inquirer's staff in 1964 during the Walter Annenberg years.

He married Gloria Hall, at that time the women's editor at the Daily News-Digest. He had become interested in meeting her after being struck by the "symmetrical layout" of her work, he said.

The union lasted 46 years until her death in 1992. He married a second time to Muriel Alls in 2001.

Surviving, in addition to his second wife, are sons Christopher and James; a daughter Tamarah; five grandchildren; and a brother.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Christ Episcopal Church, 305 Main St., Riverton, N.J. A visitation is planned for 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Weber Funeral Home, 112 Broad St., Riverton. Interment is in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Medford, N.J.

bcook@phillynews.com

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