SPRINGFIELD — David Starr, longtime publisher of The Republican who was known for his philanthropic efforts on behalf of the city, has died at age 96.
He was the former president of the newspaper and also served as a news executive at Advance Publications newspaper group.
Starr grew up in New York City. Working in Army intelligence during World War II, he arrested high-level Nazi officers. A graduate of Queens College, he came to western Massachusetts in 1977 and in addition to leading The Republican, he became known for his philanthropic work in Springfield, such as supporting museums, arts and public radio and TV. He spent years leading Springfield Central, a group that revitalized the city.
Starr always had an interest in journalism. “I knew in the fifth grade I was going to be a newspaperman,” he told Queens, the magazine of his alma mater Queens College, in 2011. He read all 13 of the daily New York City papers found in his father’s candy store, the article said.
And he had a long career. George Arwady, publisher of The Republican, said that at Advance Publications, “he was actually on the payroll for 79 years.”
Arwady said Starr had not actively been running The Republican for about 20 years, but he joked that Starr never really stopped working. “He still would come into the office every few weeks, every month or so, up until he died. We kept an office for him,” he said.
His personality was “kind but very forceful and direct,” Arwady, who knew Starr for 40 years, said.
“He had the best memory of anyone you’d ever meet,” Arwady said. “He had the most vivid memory of our company, our newspaper, of western Massachusetts. No one else had the vivid memories of life here in the last 40, 50 years as David.”
Others at The Republican reflected on Starr’s impact. “I’ll be forever grateful to Mr. Starr for having been there at the most pivotal moments of my career over the past 40 years to provide a willing ear and sage guidance to me,” Cynthia Simison, managing editor of The Republican and assistant to the publisher, said in a statement to the Gazette.
She continued, “Perhaps the greatest beneficiary of Mr. Starr’s career has been the city of Springfield. While he most certainly has had his critics, his actions and positions he took as a publisher and, as he liked to say, a ‘do-gooder,’ it was never about personal gain but always about what was in the best interests of the city and the communities we serve.”
For his work, he was given the Massachusetts Governor’s Award in the Humanities in 2017.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, echoed Simison. “With the passing of David Starr, the City of Springfield has lost one of its greatest champions,” Neal said in a statement. “He was a man for all seasons who made an extraordinary contribution to the city’s renaissance during the 1980s … The vibrant downtown we enjoy today would not be possible without his remarkable leadership and vision.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said he was “known for his trademark bowties.”
“His head, heart and soul were always for the betterment of our Springfield. His philanthropic efforts were legendary,” Sarno said in a statement.
Peter DeRose, former co-owner and co-publisher of the Gazette, said he crossed paths with Starr often.
“Even though we were close competitors, being the most significant paper close to us, he was very gracious,” DeRose said. “Always was very gracious. When we had questions about newspapers in general or specific things he was extremely helpful.”
“Certainly,” DeRose added, “he will be missed.”
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.