Longtime California political reporter, newspaper editor and much-loved WND commentary writer Thomas “Mike” Pottage died last week at the age of 83.

His son, Edward Pottage, told WorldNetDaily how, despite his father’s suffering from advancing cancer, the one activity that kept Mike forward-looking and positive, even toward the end, was being able to continue his writing.

“My father,” Edward assured WND, “will be missed dearly by not just me, but millions of conservative Americans. Thank you for allowing him to publish on your site. That privilege made him very happy because writing was his passion. He was like a 10-year-old who just learned how to ride a bike when you asked him to write a column for WND.”

Even toward the end, noted Edward, Mike’s opportunity to practice his craft of political journalism “made his last few weeks tolerable as his pain subsided under the joy of writing again.”

“As a commentator,” said longtime WND Commentary Editor Ron Strom, “Mike had a great combination of keen insight, a deft writing style and, perhaps most importantly, a humble spirit about his work.”

Added Strom, “He will be greatly missed.”

WND’s David Kupelian recalled: “Mike explained to me a few months ago about how, now in his 80s, he was so grateful to have gotten back into writing after having spent 15 years mostly away from journalism while caring for his wife, who was very ill. After she passed away, Mike, now all alone, found himself gravitating back to the activity he said he had always loved – and that was writing.

“I remember before last November’s election talking to Mike about Kamala Harris, who had risen through the ranks in California politics while Mike, then a Sacramento journalist, was a very interested and astute eyewitness. He really opened my eyes about Kamala’s astonishingly radical early years.

Added Kupelian: “Though he was dealing with serious health issues, I remember being struck not only by how cogent Mike still was, but how genuinely cheerful and enthusiastic as well – mostly about being able to write for WND.”

Pottage shared a long and strong bond of friendship and professional camaraderie going back decades with WorldNetDaily founder Joseph Farah, back when Farah was, like Pottage, a working journalist in California.

It was while Farah was editor-in-chief of the Sacramento Union newspaper in the early 1990s that he first came to know Mike Pottage. Indeed, they became professional colleagues and good friends – for life.

“He worked for me at the Sacramento Union as city editor,” said Farah. But more than that, he added, “Mike always has been a great friend.”

Reflecting on Mike’s passing, Farah said, “I get choked up just thinking about it.”

Of his old friend and compatriot Mike Pottage, Farah added simply, “He was a newsman’s newsman.”