By Al Campbell
Interview: Jack Fichter, Slideshow: Rick Racela
STONE HARBOR — Joseph R. “Joe” Zelnik, Herald editor for 25 years, died March 3, 2008 at his home here surrounded by family.
He was responsible for guiding the weekly newspaper from a 20-page print edition in December 1982 into the 60-plus page weekly with Internet presence that it grew to be by the time of his retirement, when he assumed the title "Editor Emeritus."
A seasoned journalist who could write humorous columns and detail-oriented budget stories, Zelnik had been employed by the Delaware County Times from 1966 to 1976, then by the Philadelphia Daily News as an editorial writer for about a year and a half.
From the Daily News, he went the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in the Delaware County Bureau in Media, Pa., where he spent five years. The newspaper ceased publication and Zelnik went to work for Buffalo (N.Y.) Courier-Express as an editorial writer, which went out of business six months later.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Buffalo in 1954 and a Masters Degree in 1959. His first journalism job was with one of his hometown’s two weekly newspapers in Gowanda, N.Y.
Zelnik was an editor who never lost the zeal for writing. He continued to regularly report on freeholder meetings, county Open Space Board and the county Municipal Utilities Authority. Through his years working those beats, he nurtured invaluable sources that provided him with the basis for stories that won readers’ attention.
The opening of the Cape May County Campus of Atlantic Cape Community College was one of his proudest moments because he had worked tirelessly for decades to reveal the need for such a college campus here.
Funeral service will be private.
A public celebration of his life will be held March 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul Church, 9910 Third Ave., Stone Harbor.
The family, in keeping with Joe’s casual dress style, asks that those who attend sport their favorite T-shirt or baseball cap.
They also ask that those with memories of him be written and placed in a “memory basket” that will in the church on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a namesake Atlantic Cape Community College scholarship fund that will be established.
Arrangements are by Radzieta Funeral Home, Hand Avenue, Court House.
Please post any memories you have of Joe below.
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The following deaths were reported yesterday -

===Giuseppe Di Stefano===

Giuseppe Di Stefano, Italian tenor died yesterday in Milan. He has been in a coma since he was the victim of an assault in 2004. He died at the age of 86. 

===Norm O'Neill===

Norm O'Neill, former Australian cricketer died yesterday. The death was a result of an long term illness O'Neill has been suffering from. 

An cricketer who has played against O'Neill said  "I've got beautiful memories of Norm O'Neill he was a sensational cricketer. He was a sensational sportsman, actually he was also a top-class baseballer as well as a cricketer."

===Annemarie Renger===

Annemarie Renger, German politician died yesterday  at the age of 88.

In 1972 she became the first woman to become President of the Bundestag. She was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

===Joseph Zelnik===

Joseph Zelnik, editor of the Cape May County Herald  and the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin died yesterday. A public service is due to be held on Sunday.