Bob Greenberger

Something about Clark’s job at the Daily Planet fascinated me and I was drawn to journalism. By junior high school, I was writing for the school newspaper and as a comics fan got drawn into the world of fanzines. The adventures of Woodward and Burnstein were fascinating as were the moral and ethical issues depicted week after week on Lou Grant.

I was headed for a job in publishing. Along the way, I worked at Pipe Dream SUNY Binghamton’s twice-weekly newspaper and was having the time of my life. Heck, as a sophomore I chose to move to the dorm closest to the newspaper office to ensure the shortest commute home after burning the midnight oil to close each issue. (Of course, that move proved fortuitous since that’s where I met Deb.)

Pipe Dream gave me many, many wonderful experiences and solidified my choice of career: publishing. It led to an internship at Gannett’s Sun-Bulletin and the clips from both impressed publisher Kerry O’Quinn, who hired me right out of college to work at Starlog Press and well, most of you know what happened since.

In 1998, I suggested to SUNY-B’s alumni office that we organize a Pipe Dream reunion similar to the other organizations that held reunions from time to time. Moreso, I suggested the alumni actually produce a memorial issue to be inserted into an issue of the current Pipe Dream. The entire event was a delight although, old habits resurfaced. During the reunion weekend, a cadre of Pipe Dream alum filled the offices and we stared at each other, waiting for someone to take point. Several of the alum, including a few former editors-in-chief, all looked at me expectantly. So I was once more in charge and we got the four-page issue underway,

Poor Deb and the kids. We were scheduled to go into town for dinner and I couldn’t get away from the office. The newspaper’s siren song peeled away the years and I was happy to be multi-tasking mixing old equipment with new. Finally, around 8 p.m., Deb said the kids were starving and she was taking them to dinner without me. I managed to tear myself away, leaving a few others to keep working. And yes, Sunday morning, I was back to make sure the final pieces came together. It did and the issue came out and it was fun,

Now, they’re organizing a special reunion to commemorate the 35th anniversary of when The Colonial News changed its name to Pipe Dream. More than that, I’m on the planning committee for the event – no surprise – which also happens our 25th anniversary reunion. Today, we had our second organizational meeting which I hosted here at the DC offices. Two of the current Pipe Dream staffers took time away from their Spring Break to join us at the bright hour of 8:30 a.m. to collaborate with us. Overall, we came up wit some good ideas, including producing another issue. (And in the small world department, a designer in attendance turned out to be childhood friends with one of our staff attorneys while the Newsday guy just started dating someone from down the hall from my office.)

Deb is seriously considering staying home from this one, concerned the sirens will sing to me once more. On the other hand, being our 25th reunion, we’re hoping many of our old pals will turn up.

Still, sitting around, talking shop with people who now work at Newsday and other publications was great and once more got the blood flowing. I have to admit, I can’t wait to get back there.