Long-time Oakland Tribune columnist Peggy Stinnett died today (June 2) following a battle with cancer of the esophagus. She was 87. The Tribune has posted an obituary. She started at the Montclarion newspaper, moved to the Tribune in the 1970s and retired in 2005. However later that year she began writing for the Oakland Post.

“She took no prisoners and was a City Hall watchdog in the tradition of good, solid journalism,” said Brenda Payton, who knew Stinnett from their years together at the Tribune. “Particularly in terms of open government, and on certain issues such as saving the trees around Lake Merritt, she was the person who shined a light on what the city was doing.”

(Photo credit: Nick Lammers, Tribune, dated 2/5/99)