The Oakland Tribune reports that Franz Schurmann, a UC-Berkeley professor and journalist who co-founded the Pacific News Service, died Friday (Aug. 20) in his San Francisco home at age 84. He had struggled with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease for several years.

He co-founded PNS in 1970 to promote independent research and writing in the context of the U.S. war in Vietnam and throughout Indochina.

By the time of his death, he had learned 12 languages — dedicating himself in the early 1990s to written Arabic after a flirtation with quantum physics, said his lifelong partner, New America Media director Sandy Close.

The Tribune reports that a memorial service is scheduled from 2-5 p.m. Sept. 19 at the UC-Berkeley Alumni Center. Contributions may be made to the Franz Schurmann Memorial Fund to support freelance journalists on special travel assignments. More information, including links to many of Schurmann’s writings, go to newamericamedia.org. (Photo credit: New American Media website)