Thomas J. Slattery, for many years the editorial leader of National Underwriter, passed away on May 14 of respiratory failure at the age of 68.

Mr. Slattery started with The National Underwriter Company in March 1967 as a staff writer. He rose through the ranks to serve as Managing Editor, running the day-to-day news operation of both the property and casualty and life and health editions of the NU weeklies.

He later served as Editor in Chief and Executive Editor of both editions, and was publisher of the newsweeklies for a time as well. For many years he chaired NU's Editorial Committee, writing most of the magazine's lead opinion pieces. Late in his career, he wrote his own column for NU.

“Tom Slattery was the guiding force recreating National Underwriter from a routine trade magazine into a vibrant, dynamic, modern business-to-business news organization,” said Sam Friedman, NU's current Editor In Chief, who worked under Mr. Slattery for 20 years. (For Mr. Friedman's personal reflections on Mr. Slattery's legacy, see page 5.)

“Tom implemented our first beat system of market specialists, launched a number of ambitious redesigns and boldly expanded NU's core audience by adding a consumer element–risk managers–to our historic circulation base of insurance carriers, agents and brokers,” he said.

Mr. Friedman added that “Tom's gift was putting good people in place and trusting his instincts that they could carry the ball, fostering a team mentality. He was also fiercely protective of NU's editorial integrity, with no sacred cows spared during his long career as an editorial writer and columnist.”

Mr. Slattery left the company at the end of 2001, and went on to work as an editor, freelance writer and columnist for a number of insurance publications–including Insurance Journal and Risk & Insurance–as part of his portfolio as managing director at Slattery-Esterkamp Communications in Baldwin, N.Y.

Mr. Slattery is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Esterkamp, and his son, Mark. Ms. Esterkamp has asked that donations be made in honor of Mr. Slattery to the American Cancer Society.

Mr. Slattery was a graduate in English and philosophy from Fordham University, where he also studied law.

In addition, he completed the American Management Association's Management Course, the Stanford University Professional Publishing Course and the Xavier University course in Professional Management. He was also a member of the editorial committee of American Business Press (now American Business Media).