James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty) header
James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty) profile picture

James R. Hagerty

@JamesRHagerty

Freelance writer. 40-year veteran of Wall Street Journal on 3 continents. Author of Yours Truly, a guide to writing your own story.

 Pittsburgh, PA, USA
yours-truly.jamesrhagerty.com/
Joined September 2009
  • Tweets4.8K
  • Following1.3K
  • Followers5.7K
440Media
Photo by James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty)Photo by James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty)Photo by James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty)Photo by James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty)Photo by James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty)Photo by James R. Hagerty (@JamesRHagerty)
Write your own obituary while you can. Don’t leave it to family members, who are almost certain to make a hash of it wsj.com/articles/an-obituary… via @WSJ
An Obituary Writer Writes One for Himself

An Obituary Writer Writes One for Himself

Summing up other people’s lives has given me a sense of what I want to say—and how to say it.

wsj.com
17
43
14
140
When he arrived in New York in 1948 as a 19-year-old immigrant, his most notable work experience was as a Jewish resistance fighter, blowing up train tracks to stall Nazi troop movements. wsj.com/tech/paul-strassmann…
Paul A. Strassmann, World War II Resistance Fighter Turned Computer Guru, Dies at 96

Paul A. Strassmann, World War II Resistance Fighter Turned Computer Guru, Dies at 96

He decried the “technology arms race” of the 1980s and ‘90s, arguing that companies first needed to figure out what they really needed.

wsj.com
1
1
6
318
The trust-fund baby who grew up to be a 6-foot-6 scourge of plutocrats nytimes.com/2025/05/09/busin…
Robert A.G. Monks, Crusader Against ‘Imperial’ C.E.O.s, Dies at 91 (Published 2025)

Robert A.G. Monks, Crusader Against ‘Imperial’ C.E.O.s, Dies at 91 (Published 2025)

A descendant of American wealth, he used his success in business to push for social responsibility in corporate leadership and encouraged shareholders to push back.

nytimes.com
3
295
Meet Else, the 100-year-old tax preparer in (where else?) Grand Forks, ND. wsj.com/lifestyle/taxes-acco… via @WSJ
They’re 100 Years Old—and Still Doing People’s Taxes

They’re 100 Years Old—and Still Doing People’s Taxes

Some tax professionals keep crunching numbers into their 90s and beyond

wsj.com
5
233
Long before Elon Musk, he ignored the established rules of CEO etiquette wsj.com/business/paul-oreffi… via @WSJ
Paul Oreffice, Outspoken Former CEO of Dow Chemical, Dies at 97

Paul Oreffice, Outspoken Former CEO of Dow Chemical, Dies at 97

Among other things, he called environmentalists “professional merchants of doom.”

wsj.com
2
211
Alton Thacker started his Tiny Tim’s Foundation for Kids because he wanted to provide toys to children. He ended up donating more than 1.7 million wooden toy cars. wsj.com/business/alton-thack… via @WSJ
Alton Thacker, Who Gave More Than a Million Toys to Children, Dies at 89

Alton Thacker, Who Gave More Than a Million Toys to Children, Dies at 89

A retired barber and “year-round Santa Claus,” he co-founded a foundation that makes wooden cars for children around the world.

wsj.com
3
224
Top 20 Albums of 2024 rockandbluesmuse.com/2024/12…
Top 20 Albums of 2024

Top 20 Albums of 2024

Just when we thought last year's blues rock and roots albums couldn’t be topped, 2024 arrives with more than its fair share of outstanding releases. We were bowled over by each of these albums,...

rockandbluesmuse.com
1
168
Review: Dom Martin ‘Buried Alive’ rockandbluesmuse.com/2024/12…
Review: Dom Martin ‘Buried Alive’

Review: Dom Martin ‘Buried Alive’

Review: Dom Martin ‘Buried Alive’ By Hal Horowitz If you hear traces of Rory Gallagher or Gary Moore in the guitar playing of Irish blues rocker Dom Martin, that’s no accident. Growing up in Ireland,...

rockandbluesmuse.com
1
2
181
A bookselling titan, a computer pioneer, and a pathbreaking neurosurgeon mck.co/414Cg3O via @McKinsey
A bookselling titan, a computer pioneer, and a pathbreaking neurosurgeon

A bookselling titan, a computer pioneer, and a pathbreaking neurosurgeon

Our November obituaries include a visionary architect, a digital arts innovator, and a Holocaust survivor whose story became a New York Times bestseller.

mckinsey.com
1
164
She had a plan to save the planet—and didn't let Parkinson's disease stop her wsj.com/science/environment/… via @WSJ
Joanne Chory, Who Enlisted Plants to Fight Climate Change, Dies at 69

Joanne Chory, Who Enlisted Plants to Fight Climate Change, Dies at 69

Biologist sought to breed crops that could store more carbon safely underground in their roots.

wsj.com
1
159
Hello in There (feat. Lauren Morrow) youtu.be/TmmXRFbG8a0?feature… via @YouTube
Hello in There (feat. Lauren Morrow)

Hello in There (feat. Lauren Morrow)

Provided to YouTube by MNRK Music GroupHello in There (feat. Laur...

youtube.com
127
Jimmy Lai’s brave stand wsj.com/opinion/jimmy-lai-tr… via @WSJopinion

Opinion | Jimmy Lai Stands Up for Freedom

Hong Kong tells Donald Trump to shut up about the jailed publisher.

wsj.com
124
Your best bet in an AI world? Learn how to deal with people, including jerks. wsj.com/tech/ai/students-ai-… via @WSJ
How Students Can AI-Proof Their Careers

How Students Can AI-Proof Their Careers

Artificial intelligence is going to eliminate a lot of jobs in the future. It’s possible to reduce the risk that it will be yours.

wsj.com
1
124
Charles Sporck was an early advocate of overseas assembly in semiconductors wsj.com/tech/charles-sporck-… via @WSJ
Charles Sporck, an Early Champion of Moving Microchip Manufacturing to Asia, Dies at 96

Charles Sporck, an Early Champion of Moving Microchip Manufacturing to Asia, Dies at 96

He argued that moving manufacturing allowed the U.S. semiconductor industry to create more high-paying jobs at home. “We beat the Japanese,” he said.

wsj.com
120
Getting fired was one of the best things that ever happened to Bernie Marcus, who went on to co-found Home Depot wsj.com/business/retail/bern… via @WSJ
Bernard Marcus, Co-Founder of Home Depot, Dies at 95

Bernard Marcus, Co-Founder of Home Depot, Dies at 95

His chain of warehouse-style stores used cavernous interiors and low prices to lure customers.

wsj.com
2
1
222
Among households that put up Christmas trees, about three-quarters opt for artificial ones. Here’s how one seller of real Christmas trees tries to compete. wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/chr… via @WSJ
The Economics of Selling Christmas Trees

The Economics of Selling Christmas Trees

The key is to make buying an experience, rather than just something to be done as quickly as possible.

wsj.com
111
“The Holocaust didn’t start with actions,” she said. “It started with words." wsj.com/arts-culture/lily-eb… via @WSJ
Lily Ebert, Holocaust Survivor Who Found Fame on TikTok, Dies at 100

Lily Ebert, Holocaust Survivor Who Found Fame on TikTok, Dies at 100

Hungarian-born Jewish woman hesitated to tell her story. Then a great-grandson introduced her to social media.

wsj.com
87
A corporate visionary, a retail CEO, and a fashion designer mck.co/40pSILZ via @McKinsey
A corporate visionary, a retail CEO, and a fashion designer

A corporate visionary, a retail CEO, and a fashion designer

Our October 2024 obituaries include a corporate visionary, an advocate for older adults, a surgical innovator, a retail CEO, and an award-winning photographer.

mckinsey.com
88
John McQuown led a team that launched one of the first index funds, in 1971. With indexing, he said, “you never apologize for anything.” wsj.com/finance/investing/jo… via @WSJ
John McQuown, Who Pioneered Index Funds and Transformed Investing, Dies at Age 90

John McQuown, Who Pioneered Index Funds and Transformed Investing, Dies at Age 90

The Illinois native jumped from family farm to mechanical engineering and then led a ‘Manhattan Project’ of finance.

wsj.com
1
155
Ethel Kennedy drew on her faith to endure and rise above a relentless series of family tragedies. wsj.com/us-news/ethel-kenned… via @WSJ
Ethel Kennedy, Who Drew on Faith to Endure Family Tragedies, Dies at 96

Ethel Kennedy, Who Drew on Faith to Endure Family Tragedies, Dies at 96

Traumas occurred often, including her husband’s assassination as he sought the presidency in 1968.

wsj.com
1
134
Diagnosed with Alzheimer's, he funded research and sang "Rhinestone Cowboy" with Glen Campbell. wsj.com/business/entrepreneu… via @WSJ
Mel Goodes, Who Was Determined to Help Defeat Alzheimer’s, Dies at 89

Mel Goodes, Who Was Determined to Help Defeat Alzheimer’s, Dies at 89

The former head of Warner-Lambert established a prize to promote research after being diagnosed himself—and sang a duet with Glen Campbell.

wsj.com
1
146
Load more