Jerry Flint, a longtime journalist known as the dean of auto reporters, died over the weekend of a stroke. He was 79.
Flint, father of Los Angeles Times staff writer Joe Flint, was a Detroit native and covered the automotive industry for more than 50 years for the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Forbes.
He died on Saturday in Hudson, New York.
Joe wrote his father’s obituary for Forbes.com, which carried Jerry’s “Backseat Driver” column:
Although he had recently celebrated his 79th birthday, he showed no signs of slowing down and was still contributing his biting critiques of the industry for Forbes readers.
"I've been covering the auto industry forever; you could call me ‘The 2000-Year-Old Auto Writer,’" Flint liked to joke. While he had been at it forever, he never lost his fastball and was still considered the preeminent reporter on the beat.
Throughout his career, he blasted away at the failings of Detroit automakers while rooting for their ultimate success. The hallmark of his writing at Forbes was a blunt, curmudgeonly style. He'd seen it all, and he had no problem telling readers when he thought something was a complete waste of money.
Jerry Flint’s final column was published posthumously on Sunday.
Flint is survived by his wife Kate McLeod and four children, including Joe, from a previous marriage and four grandchildren.
Shortly before his death, Jerry filed a biography for his Forbes blog:
I know the car business, not from quoting officials, but because of half a century of seeing what works and what doesn't. There was a saying in the old days, perhaps you remember it: "You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing."
I'll try to never let you down.
