A trove of words to remember from a master obituary writer

The byline of Robert D. McFadden, who retired on Sunday, has been one of the most distinguished in the history of The New York Times. Here is a sampler of his artful obituaries.

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The byline Robert D. McFadden has been one of the most distinguished in the history of The New York Times, one that has been affixed to hundreds upon hundreds of exactingly reported and artfully composed pieces since Bob joined the newspaper 63 years ago, beginning a Times career remarkable not just for its craftsmanship and productivity but also for its longevity. He retired on Sunday at 87.

He first achieved distinction as a “rewrite man,” a reporter who would take on some of the biggest breaking-news stories of the day — a jetliner crash, a historic blackout, the destruction of the World Trade Center — without ever leaving his newsroom desk.

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