John Heckathorn, a fine writer and a great guy, is dead.

We received this note from John Hart, chair of the Department of Communications at Hawaii Pacific University, where Heckathorn was teaching journalism.

Aloha:

I am saddened to share the passing of Assistant Professor of Journalism John Heckathorn this morning. John suffered a heart attack on Christmas day. An Ivy League Ph.D., local editor, food critic, and best of all to us, an inspiring teacher and person, We were so happy that he was finally able to join us and teach at HPU. His students loved him. I and the faculty will miss him as a friend and as a peer. I will remember him as a happy soul that lived a full life. Our condolences to the Heckathorn ‘ohana.

His friends at Civil Beat will miss John, too.