Riverdale mourns 'Press' founder

1982

In memoriam

On a Monday in mid-April when the sanctuary of Riverdale Temple is usually quiet, 600 mourners thronged to say farewell to David Stein, the founder of The Riverdale Press, who had died on Thursday, April 8.

In an emotional ceremony, the temple’s rabbi, Stephen Franklin, was joined by Brother Stephen Sullivan, president of Manhattan College, the Rev. Robert Rudie, Jr., rector of Christ Church, Dr. William A. Tieck, minister of Edgehill Church, Rev. David D. Cockcroft, minister of the Riverdale Presbyterian Church, all close friends of the late publisher.

Fred Friendly, Edward R. Murrow professor of journalism at Columbia University and past-president of CBS News delivered a stirring eulogy.

“David A. Stein was a professional editor and successful publisher at a time when they are an endangered species.” he said, “One of the most famous editorials in his Press years ago was ‘Who Gives a Damn About Riverdale?’ David Stein did, and that was contagious — his caring strengthened the glue that holds Riverdale together. Riverdale is sui generis. It is a blessed habitat without a government of its own, part of a crazy quilt pattern of county, city, state and federal voting constituencies.

“What makes Riverdale more than just a fancy mailing address is a weekly ‘country’ newspaper that David and Celia Stein conceived three decades ago. They made a difference. Riverdale, Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, Spuyten Duyvil, often with diverse interests, were stitched together not by some kind of political force, but by a newspaper, The Riverdale Press.