New Life on the Obits Desk

Alert readers may have noticed, and welcomed, the return of veteran Joe Holley to the obits pages. Joe, whose background includes stints as a magazine editor, editorial page editor and deputy press secretary to a governor, is our resident Texan. We're happy he's back on the beat after six months living on the Web.

It may be a little longer before another fellow appears in print, but a lusty, effervescent Santiago Walker Bernstein burst into the world Friday at a healthy 7 lbs. 5 oz.. His father, Adam Bernstein, who's specialized in the closing end of the life cycle, is now getting a good, if sleep-deprived, look at the start of it all. Our warmest congratulations.