William Boldenweck, who was a reporter at the Examiner for more than 30 years and a part-time journalism teacher at San Francisco State for another 20 years, died Tuesday after a series of illnesses at age 79, the Chronicle reported this morning.

Boldenweck was a longtime Peninsula Press Club member and was the club’s president in 1993 and 1994.

He was a classic old-school newspaper reporter, a former Marine, tough when he needed to be, affable and very good at what he did, said Larry Hatfield, who worked with him for years at the Examiner.

“Bill Boldenweck could do anything,” Hatfield told the Chronicle. “He could cover any story, and was a very good reporter and writer, who could be lyrical if the story called for it.”

He is survived by his wife, Lynn of South San Francisco; and two sons, William C. Boldenweck III and Stephen Boldenweck, both of San Francisco. Plans for a memorial service are pending.