The founder and visionary leader of The Reader, John Heaston, died on Friday, May 31 after a four-year battle with cancer. His brother, Ben Heaston said, “John was diagnosed with leukemia in 2020, shortly after our father passed away. John fought like a warrior for four years but ultimately, his body couldn’t take it.”
Credit: Chris Bowling
Ben went on saying, “The timing of John’s death Friday morning, the day of the Omaha Press Club event honoring him, made it difficult.” Ben was the emcee for the event, calling it a mini celebration of life for John. Ben added he made a joke about the timing.
“Typical for John to make this even harder on all of us,” he said.
Mike Krainak, former Contributing Visual Arts Editor for The Reader wrote:
“What terrible irony. On the day John Heaston was to be rightfully feted at the Omaha Press Club, we receive the awful news of his passing. What a legacy John leaves behind after more than 30 years of devotion to independent journalism in the region and especially the Metro community. And what a personal loss to not only his extended family and close friends but to the dozens of journalists whose careers were jump-started, enabled, continued and re-kindled under his vision and inspiration, including my own.”
BJ Huchtemann, a longtime contributing writer for The Reader, shared these comments about her friend and colleague:
“To say John will be missed is truly an understatement, there aren’t enough words to describe his contributions or honor his legacy. Our thoughts are with everyone who is missing and remembering John today.”
Another former writer and columnist for The Reader, Tim McMahan attended The Omaha Press Club event where John’s family, friends and former co-workers gathered to honor him. He said that Roger Humphries, the Face on the Barroom Floor Committee Chair, welcomed everyone and introduced the roasters, who were John’s brother Ben; John’s former classmate Steve Hudson, senior industrial hygienist, CHI at Atlas; Leo Louis II, president of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation; and Anne Schlachter, public relations professional and advisor.
Artist Jeff Koterba’s illustration of John for The Omaha Press Club depicts his life’s work in alternative news, his brilliance in business, and his devotion to protecting the environment.
Ben Heaston said the family plans to hold a memorial service at a later date. Survivors include John’s life partner Lori Umstead, mother Dorris Heaston, and siblings Ben Heaston, Eileen Bird, and Rita Clark.
