Our View: What Hank Loved

The loss of our publisher and friend, Henry C. “Hank” Hyora, last week is still raw for The Cape Cod Chronicle crew. We’re overwhelmed by the kind condolences that have come in from the community, but it still doesn’t feel real. The man who shaped this newspaper for decades is gone, and it’s up to us to make sure his legacy continues. We will.

We could use this space to tell you how much we loved Hank, but thought it might be more telling to share the things Hank loved.

Hank loved the news. He was an avid reader of newspapers and follower of online and broadcast news outlets. Even on days when his prolonged illness left his brain foggy, he knew what was making headlines — and always had strong opinions. But Hank didn’t love the fact that it’s more difficult and expensive than ever to access the news, both locally and nationally. That’s why our subscription rates are low.

He loved local businesses. A small business owner himself, Hank understood that the Lower Cape is lucky to have such a vibrant business community. He believed in eating in local restaurants, buying gifts at local stores and hiring local people for jobs that needed to be done, and encouraged us to do the same.

It’s got to be said: Hank loved cats. He had a series of rescue cats over the course of a lifetime, both at home and at The Chronicle. He enjoyed their company and took pride in the fact that he was an influential newspaper publisher who also scooped the office litter box.

Hank Hyora loved being a newspaperman. When our newsroom broke a good story, Hank got excited. He loved being informed and making sure our subscribers were well informed. He read every edition of The Chronicle cover to cover, and prided himself on learning something new every week. He loved being a publisher, but never wanted to be the stereotypical newspaper owner who hobnobbed with civic leaders, slapped the backs of business owners or gave talks at club luncheons. Hank was a leader who kept a low profile.

We know that Hank loved his staff. He took time to praise each of us for jobs well done, and shared our personal triumphs and challenges. Our problems were his, and he did his level best to help us through them. His very favorite day of the year was the annual office holiday party, a day when the whole Chronicle family came together. When we hired a new staffer, he was as proud as a new parent. When one of us got married or had a child, he rejoiced. And when one of us retired, he kept in touch.

There were many easier lines of work that Hank might have chosen. Running an independent weekly newspaper is fraught with challenges, perhaps even more so today than when Hank took the reins in 1984. But there was a reason he did this work.

Hank loved his community. From the townies who were his classmates in the Chatham schools to the newcomers drawn to the Lower Cape, Hank recognized the specialness of this place and the people who live here. When The Chronicle expanded its coverage area to include Orleans and Brewster, he was excited to share what the newspaper had to offer with a new group of friends. Hank loved answering the phone at the office, helping an advertiser pay a bill or helping a subscriber change their address. Each interaction was a chance to have a conversation, to build a relationship with you, our readers.

And with all his heart, he loved that.