Being in charge of the news morgue and photo library at the New York Times — the part of the newsroom that stored all of its old clippings and photographs — came with quite a few brushes with celebrities back in the pre-internet world.
After all, the morgue was more than just the library of the most expansive media empire in the world, and it was an unequaled research center for historians, politicians, entertainers, business leaders, authors and more.
It’s how Modesto “Bob” Medina, in his more than four decades of work at the Times, found himself in conversations with a cross-section of notables, including Ted and Caroline Kennedy, labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, historian and filmmaker William Miles, playwright Arthur Miller — and his young bride, Marilyn Monroe.
“My dad was Google before there was Google,” Carlos Medina said.
“It’s hard to imagine it now, but before the internet, research was difficult. You could go to the public library, but it was often years behind. For decades, the morgue at the Times was as close to real-time news and information as you could find — and some of the most influential people in the world went there for that.”
Medina, a longtime resident of Ridgefield, died March 20, at age 95.
He was preceded in passing by his longtime wife, Zaida Medina, who died in 2022. He is survived by his three children, Robert, Lizzette and Carlos, grandchildren Mike, Ricky, Elisa, Marisol, Enrique and Diego — and a legacy that includes keeping the news of yesterday relevant and accurate for decades.
His own story is worthy of note, too.
***
Medina was born on Feb. 2, 1930, in the Cienfuegos Province of Cuba. He came to the United States as a teenager, working odd jobs to support his pursuit of the American Dream.
Soon after, in a show of support for his new country — and the citizenship that came with it — he signed up to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
“My dad was grateful for the opportunities this country offered,” Medina said. “So much so that he was willing to fight for it.”
When he returned from the war, his search for work took him to the Times, which — in that era — sometimes screened potential candidates for employers who took out ads in the paper.
As Medina tells it, his dad had such a big personality that the Times scooped him up for themselves, putting him in a section of the paper that needed someone with enough smarts and charisma to interact with those seeking information — inside the newsroom and out.
“He loved that he was able to help so many people tell their tales,” Medina said.
***
Medina never forgot his Cuban and Hispanic heritage.
Decades before employee resource groups became commonplace in the workplace, he started a group for Hispanics working at the Times. The group’s biggest goal was to bring more diversity to the organization.
“It started with hiring people to work in the cafeteria and maintenance, but it grew to include adding more Hispanics to the newsroom,” Medina said. “My dad was immensely proud of that.”
And when dignitaries — including Latin American statesman — came to the Times for an interview, it was Medina that gave them a bilingual tour.
Medina also was proud to help all those who were underserved or ill-treated.
He worked with groups looking for information to preserve the truth about the horrors of the Holocaust.
Miles came to the Times when he needed accurate information about Blacks serving in World War I, helping him on his 1971 documentary film, “Men of Bronze” about the 369th Infantry Regiment, an all-black combat unit that easily could have been lost to history.
And when a little-known activist from New York City came looking for information, Medina told his staff: “Help Rev. Al Sharpton with whatever he needs.”
***
Medina said the brushes with celebrities are what his dad liked talking about the most in his later years.
A shout-out from Ed Sullivan on TV — “special thanks to Bob Medina and the New York Times” — has long been part of the family lore.
Of course, nothing topped the meeting with Monroe, who was the world’s biggest star when she came to the paper with Miller, the famed playwright who was seeking information for his latest work.
While outsiders from the newsroom tried to sneak a peek at the icon, Medina said his father enjoyed a one-on-one conversation with a star he described as being both glamourous and down to Earth.
According to Medina, his dad gave Monroe a personal tour of the morgue and all of its insights — including a look at unpublished photos of her and others.
“Even then, they would take hundreds of photos of people but only use a few,” Medina explained. “Remember, there wasn’t any ‘on-line’ back then. So, they only could be found in places like the morgue at the Times.
“My dad was able to show Marilyn Monroe pictures the paper didn’t use — and willingly gave her a few she liked.”
***
Medina was multi-talented. He loved to cook. In fact, he helped start a cooking club at the paper. That led to having his ‘Arroz con Pollo’ recipe printed in the New York Times magazine — something that gave him bragging rights in the family kitchen.
Of course, his passion for preserving history — and helping everyone — always will be his legacy.
After retiring from the Times in the mid-90s, Medina worked part time at the New York public library, helping ensure all photography donations were properly kept and catalogued.
He gave back to his New Jersey community, too.
Medina and his wife settled in various communities in Hudson County until moving to Ridgefield in the 90s. In Ridgefield, he served as the long-time head of the department of health.
Ridgefield Mayor Hugo Jimenez was one of the last visitors to pay his respects.
“My dad loved giving back, helping others in any way he could,” Medina said. “It’s a spirit of empathy and compassion he has instilled in all of his children — and one we are working to pass on to the next generation.”
That’s how you leave your mark on history.
Tom Bergeron and Giovanna Aguilar contributed this story to Mosaic at NJAdvance media.
