Longtime Daily Herald travel columnist wrote for ‘regular folks’

Life stories

Madelyn Merwin ~ 1924-2011

Madelyn Merwin had a distinguished career in journalism, breaking the glass ceiling both in print and broadcast.

Longtime Daily Herald subscribers remember her best for her regular travel column, which ran for more than 20 years in the Sunday edition. It took readers as far away as the Galapagos Islands or as close as across the state border to Spring Green, Wis.

Merwin died Monday at her home in Manteno. She was 87.

“She was curious, passionate, humorous and practical — and her writing reflected that,” said Eileen Brown, innovation director at the Daily Herald and a former features editor who worked with Merwin on her travel columns.

“Her column was geared to regular folks,” Brown added, “who wanted tips about how to make the most of their travels.”

Merwin attended Northwestern University and started her journalism career at The Daily Journal in Kankakee as a society reporter and columnist.

When she and her family moved to Joliet, she served as managing editor of Illinois’ then-largest weekly newspaper, The Spectator, then worked for several years in radio.

Her broadcast career earned her a seat on the board of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, making her the first woman to hold office in the INBA’s predominately male membership.

Merwin later joined the Star Newspapers in Chicago Heights, where she became the first woman at The Star to be named an associate editor on the news side.

When she retired from working full time in the newsroom in 1990, Merwin held the position of senior editor of the arts and entertainment weekly magazine.

Her retirement, however, opened up time for Merwin to travel with her husband, Don, and start a productive career in travel writing.

“She loved traveling with her family, her grandchildren in particular, and she offered wonderful insights into traveling with loved ones,” Brown added.

Merwin is survived by her husband, Don, daughters, Donna Ann (Patrick Hayes) of Virginia Beach, Va., and Paula Jett, of Manteno; as well as 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

An 11 a.m. funeral service will take place today at the Clancy Gernon Funeral Home, 291 N. Main St. in Manteno.