Robert Julian Sales

Robert J. Sales - known as Bob - beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and an award-winning newsman who mentored hundreds of journalists in a five-decade career - Bob died on November 3, 2025, at the age of 89.

Bob is the son of Alice and Abraham Sales, and was born on New Year's day, January 1, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY.

In his career, Bob worked at the following newspapers: New York Herald Tribune, Newsday, the Boston Globe, the Boston Phoenix, and the Boston Herald. For decades, Bob also taught journalism to students lucky enough to have Bob as a professor at Boston University and Northeastern University. Later, Bob joined the MIT News Office.

At the Globe, where Bob was a reporter and columnist from 1966 to 1978, Bob was a member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the desegregation of Boston schools in 1975. In 1973, Bob also was invited to contribute as journalist-fellow at Northwestern University.

Bob had a sharp eye for talent, offering valuable opportunities and invaluable encouragement to countless young aspiring and early-career journalists. Bob also supported and encouraged many women-journalists whose path in the field, then as now, encountered significantly more improper obstacles than their male counterparts.

Prominent journalists who benefited from Bob's guidance include Charles P. Pierce, Renée Loth (who describes him as “one of my life's most unforgettable characters"), Karen Guregian, Gerry Callahan, Tony Massarotti, Marie Morris, and Mike Felger. Lifting a champagne glass for a moment, in addition to the forgoing persons, the newsrooms contain countless co-workers and protégés who benefited from Bob's wisdom and support, learned from his examples, and competed to see who could do the best imitation of his unforgettable Brooklyn-accented growl.

Bob is survived by his wife of 67 years, Naomi (Simon) Sales, their son Jonathan - his wife Catalina - and granddaughter Sara (of Newton); their daughter Marian and her partner Ted (both of Lynn) - grandson Douglas and granddaughter Nicole; and many nieces- nephews- cousins. Bob is also survived by his close friend Ken Hartnett - Bob and Ken created professional wizardry together at the Boston Herald and Boston Globe.

The family is incredibly grateful to the staff at Woburn Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Woburn, and to Rachelle Tessa who helped to care for Bob at home.

Bob will be dearly missed.

To honor Bob's wishes, no funeral service will be held at this time. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled sometime in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, in memory of Bob, please make donations to the charity of your choice.