Hakel, Art

Art Hakel, head librarian at the Oakland Tribune for 28 years, who also wrote personal commentaries for the newspaper, died Aug. 20, 2009 of natural causes at his home in Pleasant Hill. He was 97. Hakel worked for the Tribune from 1936, the same year he earned a graduate degree in librarian-ship from UC Berkeley, until his retirement in 1979. Promoted to head librarian in 1951, he is remembered by colleagues for his intellect and his ever-present eye shade.” Nobody could find a fault with Art," said Seth Simpson, a library assistant under Hakel. "He was a great guy to work for -- understanding, low-key, didn't like to get angry. He was very quiet, quick-minded, and he had a great …