Revered Auto Journalist Jack Teahen Dies

Jack Teahen, a writer and editor at Automotive News for 57 years, died on Tuesday after a long illness. He was 87.

Teahen served as the newspaper's managing editor and then senior editor before retiring in 2009. He continued to write a column until September. In his final piece, the curmudgeonly Teahen took issue with industry analysts who "change their projections as often as I change my socks."

The self-described "numbers nut" was known for his prowess in assembling auto industry data and history. Teahen also was a stickler for grammar, punctuation, syntax and attention to detail.

His former colleagues remember Teahen as the consummate gentleman and a mentor to generations of AN staffers.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday at the A.J. Desmond & Sons funeral home in Royal Oak, Mich. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at St. Hugo of the Hills Stone Chapel in Bloomfield Hills.