Journalist Frane Jurić Passes Away

Publicist, writer, and doyen of Croatian journalism Frane Jurić passed away last night at the age of 87 in Split. The final farewell and burial of Frane Jurić will take place tomorrow, October 30, at 3:30 PM in his hometown of Hvar.

Frane Jurić was a long-time editor of Vjesnik, Radio Split, and a collaborator of Radio Dalmacija. He was the recipient of three awards from the Croatian Journalists’ Association for best reportage and for lifetime achievement "Otokar Keršovani". He also received the City of Split Award. More than a hundred written newspaper reports earned Frane Jurić the epithet of a journalist – a man who writes for the common man.

As reported by the Radio Dalmacija portal, he described the life of sailors in a 53-part reportage, which grew into the book "With a Typhoon in the Soul". His books also include "My Wooden Ship", "Eight from the Wooden Destroyer", and three books about our athletes, tennis player Nikola Pilić, marathon runner Veljko Rogošić, and basketball player Rati Tvrdić.

Frane Jurić’s most famous theatrical work is the monodrama "I Let You Know", and he published comedies "Mandina Wants a Son-in-Law from California", "Forgive Us Our Debts", "Folk Wisdom", and "Missis Mandina". He is the author of the film "Hell Island" and the first humorous series of TV Zagreb "Joyful Journey on a Boat of Gudgeons".

In the Croatian radio ether, Frane Jurić will be remembered for the show "Radio Jadran". At Radio Split, he founded several programs, including the famous "Summer Studio", and for many years he hosted "Maritime Evening". As a retiree, he wrote and read his humor column "Ivan and Ivanica" for Radio Dalmacija for more than five years. He was the founder of the radio sign-off "be healthy and cheerful", a greeting with which he concluded all his shows. Frane Jurić was a teacher and mentor to numerous journalists from Vjesnik, Slobodna Dalmacija, Croatian Television, Radio Split, and Radio Dalmacija. (H)