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Official Obituary of

William G. Serrin, Jr.

February 22, 2018

William Serrin, Jr. Obituary

William G. Serrin Jr., 78, of Boca Raton, Florida, died Thursday, February 22. A Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Mr. Serrin had a long career in journalism, writing for both the Detroit Free Press and The New York Times. In addition, Mr. Serrin authored several books, including “The Company and the Union“ and “Homestead”; he and his late wife Judith A. Serrin co-wrote “Muckraking: The Journalism that Changed America.” A member of the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame and the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, Mr. Serrin was part of the Detroit Free Press team that won the Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the 1967 Detroit riots. Mr. Serrin was also awarded the George Polk Award for reporting on the Kent State killings in 1970.

Mentoring many future journalists, Mr. Serrin taught journalism at New York University, retiring there in 2014. An avid Detroit sports fan, Mr. Serrin was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, and attended Central Michigan University, graduating in 1961.

A master storyteller and a lover of gags, Mr. Serrin’s early years as a camp counselor at Camp O-Ge-Maw-Ke In Mio, Michigan, served him well in entertaining friends, students, coworkers and family alike. He also served as president of the Bozo Club.

He is survived by his companion, Ellie Kazuk, daughter Sara Bigley, son-in-law Donald, and grandsons Conor and Kyle, daughter Catherine Serrin Niekro, son-in-law Ronald, granddaughters Mallory and Ally, and grandson Casey. He is also survived by his brother Phillip A. Serrin II and sister Cynthia Serrin Brandel. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn Hiscock, and his second wife, Judith Serrin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Serrin Scholarship Fund for aspiring journalists at Central Michigan University at Carlin Alumni House G/E, 524 E. Bellows St., Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 or www.cmich.edu/giving.

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