Kathy Reich, who is familiar to many on the California politics scene, posts at Take Back the Times:

I am deeply saddened to write that my father, Ken Reich, died early this morning at his home in Los Angeles. His passing was peaceful. His last hours were spent as he would have wished them--chatting with friends and family and posting to this blog. He sent his last email, to lifelong friends in India, at around 2 a.m., and then he went to sleep. His caregiver was unable to wake him this morning.

This was a terrible shock, although those of you who know my Dad know that he had been in failing health for several years.

When I get my thoughts together, I will write more about Dad--about what an amazing father he was, about what a committed and tenacious journalist he was, and about how, despite his many quirks, he endeared himself to literally hundreds of friends and family, from all over the world. Right now, it's all too raw for me. But I encourage people to leave their own thoughts and reminiscences on this blog. Dad would have loved that, and my brother David and I will take great comfort in reading your notes.

Dad's funeral will be on Thursday, July 3 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Hollywood Hills, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles. All are welcome.

Steve Wasserman, former LAT books editor, now book agent and Truthdig editor, had phoned Ken this morning to set up a lunch. He learned of Reich's passing from the caregiver. "Ken was irascible, passionate, a reporter's reporter. I admired him very much," he emails.

* Added: Wasserman and other former colleagues, plus news makers Reich covered, have posted comments on Kathy's post.