Monday, January 18, 2010
Media / Politics / Clout City / News Yet Another Tribute to Carlos Hernandez Gomez Because There Just Can't Be Too Many
Posted by Mick Dumke on 01.18.10 at 03:41 PM
Scores of people—including President Obama and damn near every reporter in town—are letting the world know how much they loved Carlos Hernandez Gomez, what a sad and absurd shock it is that he's gone at just 36, and why it was impossible not to be forever touched by his spirit and humor after you encountered it.
But he's worth every single word and thought, so in his honor I'm queuing up the soundtrack to Superfly—Carlos loved both Curtis Mayfield and blaxploitation flicks—so I can add my amen to all of it.
- Carlos Hernandez Gomez
I was one of Carlos's colleagues and editors at The Chicago Reporter back in the early 2000s, but the fact that we worked for the same news organization was incidental—the man was so energetic, friendly, and funny that it's not an overstatement to say that over the last decade he became friends with everybody on the political beat in Chicago, both journos and pols. You crossed paths with him once and came away his pal.
It was impossible not to. He loved politics and he loved Chicago, and he was brilliant at analyzing and ridiculing the inanities of this place.
He was wonderfully honest. Back at the Reporter he introduced himself to people in part by confessing that he still lived at home. "But there's nothing unusual about a Puerto Rican man living with his mother," he informed us all. When he did move into his own place, I was among those he sweet-talked into helping. I recall hours of packing and then carrying boxes full of Beatles memorabilia, books on Chicago politics, and films like The Mack, scenes of which he would quote from memory. He was a huge fan of big talent and big personalities, especially when they were, in his mind, hilariously flawed. Among his favorite characters was Screamin' Jay Hawkins, who in addition to writing the amazing "I Put A Spell On You" was also known to have fathered at least 55 children.
That same sensibility is what made him a terrific journalist. As he moved on from the Reporter to Chicago Public Radio and then CLTV, Carlos's huge personality and irreverence sometimes rattled his supervisors. He wasn't the type to break news so much as explain and illustrate it it by letting his readers, listeners, and viewers know why he thought a politician was the real deal or a real loser. As recently as last summer, when he and I had a blast talking politics with Richard Steele on WBEZ's "Eight Forty-Eight," he declared on the air that a listener sympathetic to Mayor Daley was "on crack." This sort of thing is considered a no-no in an era when we media types are supposed to be encouraging audience participation, but Carlos's comment cut to the point, both for that caller and the other thousands of voters who've allowed the mayor to get away with corruption and waste for 20 years.
Some journalists stay informed by digging through documents or spending hours on the phone engaging in formal interviews. Not Carlos. He did his homework, to be sure, but the man was an old-school reporter. He dressed like he was a member of the Rat Pack, answered his phone by barking out "Hernandez!" and gathered information by chatting everybody up. Carlos was fundamentally a talker. He could get an empty seat laughing—or an empty bar stool at his beloved Billy Goat Tavern. Not that he was ever near one; people gathered to him. He won their confidence by asking about their children, oversharing a bit about his own personal problems, rallying them to the cause of Puerto Rican independence, and doing dead-on impressions in "ethnic" dialects—of all sorts—that made certain stuffy types cringe and everybody else bust up and then reflect, since his targets were always leaders who had abused their power and shut out the little guys but would end up getting theirs because they weren't nearly as smart as they thought. Nothing to him was quite as amusing and just as a crooked politician getting sent up by the feds.
Carlos was open with his hundreds and hundreds of friends about his ups and downs with cancer, but he was so insistent that he would beat it that I was shocked to learn last night that he'd died. It is a vast understatement to say it doesn't make any sense to me, and I feel horrible for his wife and family.
But since this is Carlos we're talking about, it seems most appropriate to sing a little bit of "Theme from Shaft" ("Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man? ... Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about.... You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother....") and then get back to work. Hernandez set a high standard for the rest of us.
Comments (9)
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Great guy. Great reporter. I will miss him very much and I will always remember his signature THIS IS CARLOS HERNANDEZ GOMEZ FOR WBEZ. Rob Kelter
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RIP. I will fondly remember hearing his reports on WBEZ. I always thought it was funny that he spoke in a Chicago accent for his reports, but when he said his name, he busted out the Puerto Rican accent, rolling his R's. Always made me smile.
I loved Carlos's reporting. I agree with Mick's assessment about his love of the subject- it was infectious. This is so shocking and sad! I was looking forward to so much more analysis from him and as Mick said- with a view to the crazy history of Illinois and Chicago corruption. Unbelievable. Rest in Peace, Carlos. It is comforting to know that he was doing exactly what he loved to do - that was so obvious. He will be sorely missed. Thanks for the post, Mick.
Hi Mick, I really enjoyed your well-written and entertaining piece about Carlos. A great portrait of his characters. The news was so shocking and sad but many people seem to be embracing their memories of the great reporter. Thanks for the post! - Kimiyo Naka
I used to often times commute on the el with Carlos in high school. He was a year older and was very welcoming to me which I being freshmen at the time really appreciated. He loved to meet and greet and share the latest news. His spirited light hearted oratory could have the whole train car upbeat and engaged which for a kid amongst commuting adults was a real talent. He had a special gift. Years later when I learned he took to politcal contibuting in the media it made perfect sense. He was a real gentlemen and I am very sad to hear of his sickness and death. My heart goes out to his love ones.
Mike Hughes
Quigley class of 92.
Hey Mick,
Great column about Carlos. I was lucky to work with you guys at the Reporter. It was definitely a time in my life I won't forget and Carlos was one of a kind.
It is just so sad. Please continue the work that you and Carlos were always so great at.
Eric Luchman
My most sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and wife, truly he will be missed by many people; and to his colleagues... the beat goes on. May God bless him and keep him, and may He grant Carlos eternal rest and peace. Amen
Christine Garcia - McLaren
The guy knew more about local politics and the mob before he was 30 than most reporters learn in a lifetime. He knew the players, and he knew how to connect the dots. Old School all the way. Doing the tough research, asking the tough questions. My favorite moments were pushing everything aside I had to do so we could jump in the car and head to Johnnies Beef in Elmwood Park. He was so proud when he handed me a photocopy of the birth certificate for Angelo 'the hook' LaPietra (the old boss of the Chinatown crew, known to put guys that didn't pay up on meat hooks). I've got it sitting here on my desk. My brother, you are missed already. Jason Marck
