Harvey Aronson was a writer's writer. He wrote prolifically himself, authoring seven books. And over a decades-long career at Newsday, he edited important projects, wrote columns and was the newspaper's first and only writing coach, helping to shape the prose of reporters and columnists in a nurturing and supportive way.

Aronson also took that supportive approach to Stony Brook University, when he and his wife, Irene Virag, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former Newsday reporter, editor and columnist, joined the inaugural faculty of the university's School of Communication and Journalism in 2005.

Aronson taught at Stony Brook until 2018. Virag remains the journalism school's associate dean for student affairs and undergraduate program director.

"They don’t make them like Harvey anymore, I can

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