Reg Obit Writer Among Those to Leave Paper

There's something a little sad—ironic is too obvious a word—in the apparent fact that Robin Hinch, the Register's famed obituary writer, is among the casualties of the paper's most recent round of self-immolation.

Today I received an anonymous tip from a source with ties to the Register's newsroom saying that Hinch—the subject of a Weekly feature story years ago and a former Freedom Communications Employee of the year—is departing the paper. Besides Hinch, the source said the following staffers were on their way out the door:

*Catherine Reiland, the paper's deputy editor for finance

*Neil Pinchin, a design editor

*Andy Horan, a Sunday editor who joined the revenue-draining OC Post as managing editor until it folded recently, returning to the Reg

*Travel editor Steve Plesa

*Sports editor Greg Gibson

*Daniel Anderson, a photographer and husband of Register columnist Yvette Cabrera

It's still unclear if Hinch and the others are being forced out or are taking buyouts that were announced in tandem with the staffing cutbacks, although one would have to assume that at least some of the departures are voluntary. It's too bad, as our profile of her noted, Hinch was one of the best obituary writers in the business; she actually took more time to get to know her dead subjects than most writers spend talking to live ones. And both Plesa and Gibson edited award-winning and highly readable sections of the paper.

Stay tuned for more names as they become known.