As I get older, I find myself doing a lot more self-reflection, especially in times of loss.
When I was younger, I was fortunate that death did not find its way into my life very often. If I experienced a loss, it was usually someone I was not overly close with, and even that was very rare. It wasn’t until my late teens that I lost a grandparent for the first time, and it would be nearly a decade before I lost another.
However, the past couple of years seems to have brought on a wave of loss. All of my grandparents are gone, and more often than not I am learning of friends who have left us too early.
Last week was another one of those instances.
Earlier in the week, I was told the news that Jonathan Zettel, former editor of the Herald-Times and friend of the gang here at Midwestern Newspapers, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this summer.
A few days later, Jonathan – who we affectionately called JZ – passed away at the age of 48, after a brief battle with cancer.
JZ and I worked together for a few years when the Herald-Times and other area papers were under the Metroland banner. He was the editor here in Walkerton, and I was editor over in Listowel and Wingham (among others). While we didn’t work together in the same office, we were both subjected to the various meetings editors were subjected to on a regular basis with the “Green Dot.”
Over the course of those meetings – and several emails about said meetings – we struck up a pretty good friendship. I would email him for guidance, and he would do the same.
Some of our conversations would be serious, such as when he asked me to be another set of eyes on a hard news story before it went to press, and some would be light hearted.
I want to share some of those stories with you – and written word is the best way to do it.
First, a story about his talent.
He loved to tell stories about his community – the good, the bad and the ugly.
I recall the day he emailed me saying he was working on something big for that week’s Herald-Times.
“It’s about Brucelea Haven.”
Not being familiar with Walkerton at that point in time, he brought me up to speed on the allegations facing the home – multiple reports of noncompliance, emails from family members detailing their experiences, and leaked memos from staff asking the whistleblowers to stop.
“This sounds awful,” I remember telling him. “Can’t wait to read it.”
I recall reading each of the stories he would put together about Brucelea Haven, and after three or four I remember emailing him back.
“Dude, you’re going to win an award for this.”
We all know how the Brucelea Haven situation turned out – new leadership and the issues of noncompliance seem to be a thing of the past. And not to say I told you so, but… JZ won third in the Best News Story category at the 2019 OCNA awards.
Second, a story about knowing when to bite your tongue.
As I mentioned before, JZ and I would have to attend several meetings in exotic places such as Hamilton, Newmarket and Aurora as part of our editorial duties at Metroland.
At one such meeting, at the Hamilton Spectator offices, all of us editors were huddled in a boardroom while a couple of big wigs from head office in Toronto told us their bold new content strategy for small market newspapers, with the goal of switching our papers and websites from free to paid subscription.
I remember looking at JZ and saying, “We’re already there.” At that point in time, the Herald-Times and the papers I looked after were the only paid subscription papers in Metroland. He just shook his head, said, “I know” and continued to listen. When it came time to ask questions of the big wigs, I put up my hand.
“Excuse me, but my papers, and the Walkerton Herald-Times, are already paid subscription.”
She Who Shall Not Be Named, the mastermind of this content strategy, looked at me. Clearly, I struck a chord.
“Why should we change what we are doing when we are already where you want us to be?” I asked.
JZ could read a room much better than I could.
“Back down, Mike. Deal with it later.”
I was young and didn’t have a filter, so I pressed on. My exchange with the big wig went on for a few minutes, then eventually she shut down the conversation. After the meeting, JZ looked at me and said, big smile on his face, “Was nice working with you.” I laughed, and for a few years after we joked it was a miracle I made it out of that meeting with a job.
Which brings me to my final story: Jonathan’s positive attitude.
In 2017, Walkerton faced Mount Forest in the PJHL Pollock Division Finals. JZ emailed me one day before the series started, asking if I was up for a friendly wager. If Walkerton won, I would have to wear a Hawks jersey and have a picture published in the Herald-Times. If Mount Forest won, he would wear a Patriots jersey and have his photo published in the Confederate.
“You’re on.”
The series went to Game 7 in Walkerton, with the Patriots winning. I don’t remember the final score, but I remember seeing JZ that night at the Walkerton arena. As the celebration took place on the ice, I walked over to him and said, “What size of jersey do you wear?”
True to his word, JZ came to town, wore the jersey, and did so with a smile.
And that’s the best way I can describe Jonathan – always with a smile, and loved what he did, his community and his family.
You’ll be missed by many.
-30- for now, my friend.
***
Mike Wilson is the editor of the Walkerton Herald-Times. Comments and feedback are welcome at mwilson@midwesternnewspapers.com.
