ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- "He believed in me so much. He believed in everyone so much."
University of Maryland student Theresa Johnson had nothing but warm words for her professor Rob Hiaasen, who died in Thursday’s shooting of the Capital Gazette.
"Professor Hiaasen was like a journalism Dad. He had jokes and was wholesome and warm,” she posted to her Facebook after learning the heartbreaking news.
Author Carl Hiaasen confirmed that his brother, veteran journalist Rob Hiaasen, was among the five killed in the shooting attack on a Maryland newspaper.
Hiaasen was a columnist and editor for The Capital Gazette for several years and had just completed his first semester of teaching as an adjunct professor at UMD.
“When I get that degree, it will be because of him,” Johnson told WUSA9.
Hiaasen was well-known in the UMD community. Dean of the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism Lucy Dalglish told WUSA9 that, upon hearing about the tragedy, she quickly texted her friend Rob Hiaasen.
"I thought, he’ll get back to me. And he didn’t," she said.
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Carl Hiaasen said on his Facebook page he is "devastated and heartsick" to confirm the loss of his brother in Thursday's shooting at The Capital Gazette. He recalls his brother as "one of the most gentle and funny people I've ever known" who had a "gifted career as a journalist."
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The Miami Herald reported that Hiaasen was a warm and witty voice in the media world.
Rob Hiassen was 59. He kept up lifelong connections to Florida, where he grew up and worked previously for the Palm Beach Post.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
