Henry Altman

Henry (Hank) Altman, a Washington, DC, journalist, who in retirement, lived in Lake of the Woods (LOW) in Orange County, VA., died December 8th, 2025. He was 101. Hank was predeceased by his son James, 1995 and brother Arthur, 2022. Survivors include his wife of 75 years, the former Mary Keating of Arlington, VA; two daughters, Elizabeth Altman Bush Stansel (Kirk), Anne Altman (Dan Pelino); two grandsons, Zachary Alire and J.J. Bush; a granddaughter, Stephanie Alire and great-granddaughter, Sophia Dotson; three nieces, Agnes Wages, Kathy English, and Margie Altman; two nephews, Murray Altman and Paul Altman.

Altman worked for the Washington Daily News for 22 years, starting in 1946 as a general assignment reporter whose coverage ranged from crimes to plane crashes to Congressional hearings. He then was assigned to a court beat that included not only a variety of local criminal and civil cases but also cases involving national figures and issues. He then became, in succession, an assistant city editor, the wire editor, the city editor, and the news editor (Title: assistant managing editor).

In 1969 he moved to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spending most of the next 18 years on the Chamber’s million-circulation monthly magazine, Nation’s Business – (he put in one year as the Chamber’s special publications editor). He started at Nation’s Business as one of several associate editors and retired with the title of managing editor.

Although most of his work at Nation’s Business involved editing, Altman found time to do some writing, primarily involving interviews with prominent business and political figures (President Reagan was one of the latter). Both the Washington Daily News, a lively afternoon tabloid published by Scripps-Howard Newspapers and Nation’s Business, published by the U.S. Chamber for its members but widely read by others, are now defunct.

After retiring, Altman indulged a fascination with archeology by enrolling in an undergraduate class in the subject at George Mason University. He later went on two digs, one at Mt. Vernon, where his team uncovered the site of a George Washington era smithy and the other, an Indian site, in coastal Georgia.

The Altmans had built a home in 1957 on a large lot in North Arlington, on the border with Fairfax County’s Franklin Park area. In 1989 they sold it and – Mary having retired from the

American Association of School Administrators – moved to a waterfront home in Lake of the Woods.

In the years that followed, Altman enjoyed boating, swimming and golfing among other activities. He also served in the LOW Fire & Rescue Company, primarily as a Board Member, fundraiser and publicist. He also served in the LOW Lions Club and as a guide at Ellwood, the historic plantation home that survived the Battle of the Wilderness during the Civil War.

The Altmans made time for world and domestic travel, most of it while living at Lake of the Woods. They visited scores of countries, sometimes in overland excursions, sometimes via cruise ship, and also saw most of the United States.

Dog lovers, they shared their lives in succession with four pedigree pups and three mixed breeds rescued from shelters.

A graduate of Wesleyan University, Altman, a Brooklyn, NY, native, served in the overseas operations of the Office of War Information in World War II. He started as a teletypist and was promoted to writer-editor, working on broadcasts of news and propaganda and writing leaflets.

He was a member of the Lake of the Woods Church, The LOW Lions Club and the Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield. He was also a life member of Sigma Chi fraternity.

A private family burial will be held on Saturday, December 13th. This will be followed by a celebration of life, to be held at the Lake of the Woods church (date to be determined).

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the LOW Fire and Rescue (104 Lakeview Pky., Locust Grove, VA 22508) or a charity of your choice.