STAN Ritova will be remembered as a journalist of outstanding skill and a man passionate about his career.
His death in Sydney on Wednesday after a long battle with kidney disease marks the end of an era in Fiji journalism.
Ritova started his career with this newspaper, rising through the ranks to become its first local chief reporter.
Later, he would join the original Fiji Sun to become news editor before that publication was forced to close in 1987.
After working as a correspondent for the New Zealand Press Association, Ritova returned to newspaper work and was instrumental in the foundation of the Daily Post with entrepreneur Taniela Bolea.
Ritova was born Stan Whippy, tracing his paternal links to the great David Whippy, one of the key figures in Fiji's early history.
His mother was from the mataqali Wasavulu, chiefly household of Naseakula, Macuata.
One of his illustrious forebears was Ritova, a signatory to the Deed of Cession in 1874.
As a journalist, Stan Ritova was a feisty interviewer, not afraid to face prickly situations and ask the tough questions of those in authority at the time.
He was also committed to the advancement of journalists playing a key role in the establishment of first Fiji Institute of Journalism.
In 1987, Ritova was co-author of a biography of Sitiveni Rabuka, at the time a relatively unknown colonel who had recently overthrown the coalition government of Dr Timoci Bavadra.
At the time of his death, Ritova was in the process of writing a book on the history of the profession he loved and served so well.
An inspiration to journalists, this son of Fiji was crippled by kidney disease late in life.
Instead of succumbing to the illness, Ritova tackled it head on in his usual confrontational manner.
Debilitated by the disease, he played a major role in setting up the Kidney Foundation and helping patients who shared his misfortune.
At the same time he continued to contribute to the media as a Sydney-based journalist.
It was not unusual for his colleagues to be tipped off from Sydney by the great Stan Ritova who – despite being abroad – continued to maintain a keen interest in his home, Fiji.
His latest award was the well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fiji Awards for Media Excellence.
We extend our sympathies to the Ritova and Whippy families at this time of loss and grief.
But while Ritova may have passed on, his achievements will be remembered forever.
