Haddon L. (Bob) Shabazian, 94, died on November 23, 2020 at home in Verona, surrounded by his loving family.
Services were private.
Born in Union City, N.J. he was a graduate of Rutgers University. Shabazian served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attaining the rank of electronics technicians mate third class.
Shabazian, who began reporting at the Hudson Dispatch, joined the Newark Evening News in 1951 covering Hudson and Bergen counties. He later became Newark City Hall reporter before being named assistant state editor and eventually business and financial editor at the paper. When the News ceased publication in 1972, Shabazian worked at the Associated Press in New York before joining the public relations staff at the American Stock Exchange in 1973.
While at the Newark News he participated in staff coverage for many major news stories including the Newark City riots of 1967, the cessation of commuter rail and ferry service between New York and New Jersey in 1950-1960 and Hurricane Diane in 1955. He often said he was part of major history in the newspaper business, “going from the hot lead type era with strict deadlines to a digital era where every minute turned into a deadline.”
A longtime member of the New York Financial Writers association, he served on the editorial advisory board of Financial History magazine published by the Museum of Financial History. He also held memberships in the Society of American Business and Editorial writers and the National Press Club.
Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Sara (Betty) Murdy (the couple met when she also worked at the Newark News), two sons, Robert of Verona and Stephen of Montville, a daughter, Elizabeth A. Quercia of Verona and five grandsons, Robert L. Jr. of Jersey City, Sean G. of Hoboken, Jake Quercia of Verona and Kyle J. and Stephen Jr. both of Montville. He is also survived by a daughter-in-law Beth, son-in-law Richard Quercia and daughter-in-law Jennifer.
Donations in his memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org) would be greatly appreciated.
Condolences may be left at www.proutfuneralhome.com.
