By MICHELLE R. SMITH, The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Jim Taricani, an award-winning TV reporter who exposed corruption and served a federal sentence for refusing to disclose a source, has died. He was 69.
His friend, Dyana Koelsch, said on Saturday that Taricani died at his home in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, on Friday. The cause was kidney failure.
Taricani covered Rhode Island for 40 years, 32 of them at WJAR-TV. He focused much of his reporting on organized crime, and chronicled the crimes of the New England Mafia and figures including Raymond L.S. Patriarca. He also became a national advocate for a federal shield law that would protect journalists from having to reveal sources.
Taricani was convicted in 2004 of criminal contempt for refusing to reveal the source of a secret FBI videotape that showed a Providence city official taking a $1,000 cash bribe. The video was part of a corruption investigation that ultimately sent former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci to prison.
He said at the time that it was important to air the video to show people what corruption looked like.
A federal judge sentenced him to six months and allowed him to serve it in home confinement because of his health: he had a heart transplant in 1996. He was released after four months for good behavior. When he retired in 2014, he told The Associated Press that he would not have done anything differently.
“I just believe that this is what a reporter does,” he said. “I don’t think any reporter wants to be in that position. But it’s part of the job. It’s part of the territory that we travel in.”
The lawyer who was his source later admitted it and went to prison for contempt and perjury.
A Connecticut native, Taricani started in radio, and then was hired at WPRI-TV before going to WJAR, where he founded the station’s investigative unit. He won four Emmys, the Edward R. Murrow award and the Yankee Quill Award, the highest individual honor presented by the Academy of New England Journalists.
He also became a mentor to generations of journalists in Rhode Island, both at his own station and at competing outlets.
Koelsch said Taricani’s wife, Laurie White, had received an outpouring of support Saturday, both from powerful politicians and regular people who loved and respected him. U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, who succeeded Cianci as mayor, remembered Taricani as “a person of extraordinary integrity and a principled journalist.” The Rhode Island General Assembly, convening Saturday morning, held a moment of silence in Taricani’s honor.
Koelsch said despite his health problems, Taricani’s transplanted heart was still going strong when he died.
Taricani told the AP when he retired that he knew he was well beyond the life expectancy of someone with a heart transplant.
“I’ve been lucky,” he said. “Way lucky.”
His long time colleague, Dyana Koelsch issued a statement on behalf of his family:
James Taricani, beloved husband, son, brother and friend passed peacefully at his home on June 21, 2019.
On behalf of his wife Laurie and Jim’s close friends, we are profoundly grateful for the blessing of having Jim in our lives.
We are thankful for the skilled medical professionals and caregivers that have provided life -saving care for Jim … dating back to 1986 when he had his first heart attack at age 36 and through the many years. Jim inspired us with his spirit as he underwent a heart transplant and other medical challenges. We’d like to thank the teams at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and here in Rhode Island at Kent County Hospital and Dr. Hub Brennan Jim’s wonderful personal physician, friend and musical collaborator.
It’s hard to describe the vast impact Jim had on our lives. His award-winning investigative reporting personified excellence in journalism. Covering organized crime and government corruption with unwavering courage for nearly four decades, Jim was fair, thorough and compassionate. He was committed to the highest professional standards. Yet he remained humble and curious, accessible to everyone regardless of their position.
Jim was a United States Air Force veteran who received a Presidential Letter of Commendation in 1968 for helping secure the transfer of James Earl Ray— the assassin of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jim was a rock and roller, an occasional cowboy boot wearing rebel, a lousy joke-teller a fantastic chef and a generous writer who shared his personal story. But most importantly, he was a good man.
A careful listener, Jim had a quiet wisdom that gave him the ability to see the essence of situations. He had an irrepressible sense of humor especially when it came to laughing at himself. He was fearless with a stubborn persistence. He hated bullies and when he turned that steely stare – it could be downright scary. But he was gentle and loved his kitties. He was reflective and meditative. He had a passion and talent for music and writing songs, playing the drums, guitar and trumpet—-even singing now and then.
When I recently asked Jim what he thought of as his largest life accomplishments- he reflected for a minute and said first and foremost staying alive… and secondly living- fully livinghis life.
He knew he had been given a second chance with his heart transplant and he was determined to honor that new heart in his chest with a life of purpose. He never forgot that someone died so that he could have that second chance.
He was kind and sensitive, generous and creative. He was a strong and selfless friend and to Laurie – the love of his life- he was a devoted husband.
