Veteran Times Reporter Tom Goff Dies : He Covered the State Capital as Bureau Chief for 10 Years

Tom Goff, former Sacramento bureau chief and government reporter for The Times, died early Monday at his San Diego home, where he had been on disability leave from his last assignment as editorial writer and columnist for the newspaper’s San Diego County edition.

Goff, 63, had been in failing health and had not been active since the middle of last year.

President Reagan, one of the former California governors covered by Goff during his years in Sacramento, said Monday that he and Mrs. Reagan “remember him well as a dedicated and talented journalist who was tough but always fair.”

The President added, “We have many fond memories of our days in Sacramento and our friendship with Tom is among them. We extend our sympathies to Betty (Mrs. Goff) and their family.”

Thomas J. Goff was born Feb. 18, 1922, in Cloverdale, Calif. He was graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1943 with a BA degree and served during World War II with the U.S. Navy as a deck officer with the rank of lieutenant.

He began his journalism career after the war, working as a staff correspondent for United Press International in Sacramento and then as general assignment reporter for the Sacramento Bee. He was editor of the Huntington Park Signal from 1957 to 1964, and then joined The Times, where he was a reporter and assistant city editor before heading the Los Angeles County government bureau.

He took over as Sacramento bureau chief in 1968, serving in that capacity for 10 years. In 1978, he was appointed San Diego bureau chief, then became editorial writer and columnist when the San Diego County edition was established.

During his years in Sacramento, Goff covered the Legislature and politics. He interviewed Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Truman and Nixon. He covered the administrations of Govs. Earl Warren, Goodwin Knight, Reagan and Edmund G. Brown Jr.

He won The Times Editorial Award in 1974 for his analysis of Reagan’s eight years as governor, and he was a member of the editorial staff that won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Watts riots.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and six children: Cynthia Cole, Candice Marziano, Thomas Jr., Jeffrey, Martha and John. He also leaves his mother, Frances Goff, of Newport Beach.

Rosary will be recited at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 7727 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Burial will be at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.