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November 15, 2009

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R-J editorial writer Tammariello dies

Friday, Sept. 10, 1999 | 10:30 a.m.

Rafael Elliott Tammariello, an award-winning editorial writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 48.

The Clark County coroner confirmed today that Tammariello, a former business editor at the newspaper, died at 8:40 p.m. Thursday. Services are pending.

"I enjoyed his dry sense of humor -- he was a great guy to work with," said Kent Lauer, a former Review-Journal reporter in the 1980s, who now is executive director of the Nevada Press Association. "Rafael was very intelligent and had a firm grip on the issues, especially on the national front."

Among his honors, Tammariello won third place last year for an editorial on the 1997 slaying of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson at the hotel-casino in Primm.

Tammariello will be honored posthumously with an honorable mention award for best editorial writing at this year's Nevada Press Association Convention on Sept. 25 in Yerington.

Tammariello is survived by his wife, Joan. A complete list of survivors was not immediately available.

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