John D. Sinor:
(Born: Sacramento, California, 1930 – Died: San Diego, 1996).
American writer and newspaper columnist, best known for his human, often playfully ironic view of daily life.
He began his journalism career at the *Sacramento Bee* before moving to the McClatchy newspaper organization, where he worked for fourteen years, with an interruption for service in the Korean War.
From 1965, Sinor worked at the *San Diego Union-Tribune*, where for more than 27 years he wrote a column that revolved around “the everyday problems of ordinary people.” His tone was often light-hearted, with a keen eye for small human details – think of neighborhood disputes, families and the quirks of pets. Beginning in the late 1970s, his column was also distributed nationally through the *Los Angeles Times* syndicate, appearing in hundreds of American newspapers.
He also wrote several books, including *Finsterhall of San Pasqual* (based on a story that Disney once wanted to make into a film but never released), *Some Ladies in My Life*, *Eleven Albatrosses in My Bluebird Tree* and *Ghosts of Cabrillo Lighthouse*. His literary work reflected the same warm humor and empathetic view that could also be found in his columns.
Sinor retired in 1992 and died of heart and kidney failure on September 5, 1996 in San Diego. His legacy lives on in the form of quotes and columns that still circulate within writing circles and journalism schools in California, where he is remembered as “the chronicler of ordinary life.”
October is crisp days and cool nights, a time to curl up around the dancing flames and sink into a good book.
