RIP.

John Futch, longtime P-T editor dies, at 75 after head injury
John Futch, a Vietnam Veteran, lifelong journalist and former Press-Telegram editor has spent his retirement in Cambodia.
By Rich Archbold | [email protected] and Hayley Munguia | [email protected] | Press-Telegram
PUBLISHED: February 25, 2021 at 11:05 a.m. | UPDATED: February 25, 2021 at 5:14 p.m.

John C. Futch, a former Press-Telegram editor whose multiple stints at the paper spanned three decades, has died, two weeks after suffering a head injury. He was 75.

His adopted son, Michael Delorio, said the family of Futch’s girlfriend, Ah Mean, informed him of his death.

Ah Mean also confirmed Futch’s death in a Facebook post. He died around 1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, Cambodian time, according to the post. That’s 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, Pacific Standard Time.

Futch, who retired from the paper in 2010 and has lived in Cambodia in recent years, hit the back of his head when he fell while exiting a vehicle Feb. 12. He was hospitalized and doctors diagnosed him with subdural hematoma near the injury site and a possible stroke, Delorio said. A subdural hematoma is when blood collects and exerts pressure on the brain.

Futch underwent surgery recently to reduce a fluid buildup in his brain.

But Futch’s situation worsened, Delorio said, with doctors indicating that Futch also had pneumonia.

“I’m devastated by the passing of the man who raised me and helped me get to where I am today, both as a mentor and a friend,” Delorio said. “He was my stepdad and best friend. He was someone you could always count on to be in your corner.”

Futch spent 45 years in journalism, with his career taking him from newspapers in Georgia — where he grew up — to Long Beach and then to Florida, before returning to Long Beach, where he ended his career. As an editor, he was known as an intense, fearless and loyal leader. Futch over the years also taught journalism at the University of Georgia and Long Beach City College. He was also known during his long newspaper career as a mentor for young journalists who went on to become among the best in the business.

When news of Futch’s injury became public last week, many of his colleagues and friends rallied to help him. Among them were two of Futch’s former colleagues at the Press-Telegram: Keith Higginbotham, the communications director for Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, and Tracy Manzer, communications director for Bay Area Rep. Jackie Speier.

Higginbotham and Manzer — who knew Futch as a kind, generous and supportive friend — said it was an easy decision to try whatever they could to help their former colleague.

“He would have moved heaven and earth for any of us,” Manzer said, “so we needed to do that for him.”

Delorio, 25, an engineer in Santa Cruz, started a GoFundMe account to help pay for his father’s medical bills. The campaign had received donations from nearly 200 people and raised more than $25,600, as of Thursday evening.
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/02/25/ ... ad-injury/

That sucks. RIP

Posted by John Futch's wife Ah Mean on his social media page:

I am sorry to inform this news. JONH has passed away at 1AM on Friday 26, 2021. The religious ceremony will be conducted at Udna Loa Pagoda near River Side as in Khmer traditional ceremony.
My contact: 098 49 11 16 (Ah Mean)

May it be heat spell or sudden fainting, hitting the head is always critical...
I have a relative who fainted at home one fine day and subsequently succumbed to the injury due to her age...
Hope the injury is not as bad so he could recover well...

Just read the latest update... May you rest in peace...

Sad, RIP mate.

RIP. Yet another reminder of how fragile life can be. Very sad.

Terrible tragedy. Condolences to family and friends. RIP.

Jesus Christ

Very tragic.

I wonder if a timely medivac to Thailand would have made the difference.

I shudder at the thought of him passing away needlessly in Cambodia strictly due to the lack of suitable brain trauma care available here.

RIP and thank you for your service.