Arthur Spiegelman, called by Reuters one of the wire's "finest writers and longest-serving correspondents," died at home in Los Angeles on Saturday. He was 68. From the Reuters story:

He was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. After a stint at The Record in Hackensack, New Jersey, Arthur joined Reuters in 1966 and was posted to London where he edited stories for American clients. He then worked as a reporter, covering the Northern Ireland conflict among many other events.

He transferred to New York in 1972, working as chief editor and national correspondent before moving in 1985 to Manila to cover the upheavals of the Ferdinand Marcos government.

After a further stint in New York as a national correspondent he moved to Los Angeles in 1997 where he specialized in the entertainment industry. In 2006, he was named one of Reuters' journalists of the year.

Generous with his time and hospitality, Spiegelman mentored hundreds of young journalists. His office door was always open and his home a regular venue for meals and parties. He was renowned for his crisp and witty lead paragraphs, an incredibly messy desk, and his infectious giggle.

One of his proteges emails: "Art spent about 10 of his 42 Reuters years in LA and made a profound impact on a lot of journalists, myself included. He was also, as it happens, one helluva guy."