A University of Arizona graduate who went on to write three novels — one of which was made into a film — and worked as a war correspondent for Newsweek died last week.
Nicholas Proffitt was 63.
Proffitt, who attended Buena High School in Sierra Vista, died of kidney cancer Nov. 10 after being diagnosed only three weeks earlier, his wife, Martie Proffitt, said Friday from her home in Naples, Fla.
Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Proffitt moved around a lot because his father was in the military. In 1959, the family found itself in Sierra Vista where Proffitt would graduate from high school in 1961, Martie Proffitt said.
He joined the Army immediately thereafter and attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for one semester. Proffitt completed his enlistment in the honor guard at Arlington National Cemetery.
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In 1964, Proffitt returned to Arizona to attend the University of Arizona where he earned a bachelor's of arts degree in journalism, in 1968, Martie Proffitt said. During his senior year, Proffitt worked as a copy editor for the Arizona Daily Star.
After graduation, Proffitt went to work for The Associated Press in California before he began working for Newsweek in 1969, where he would remain for the next 12 years.
In 1971, Proffitt covered the Vietnam War and the following year he served as the Saigon bureau chief, Martie Proffitt said. In April 1975, he covered the fall of Saigon.
After retiring from Newsweek in 1981, Proffitt wrote three books: "Gardens of Stone," which was made into a film, "The Embassy House" and "Edge of Eden."
While Proffitt did not return to Arizona often, he did remain connected, following UA basketball closely, being inducted into the Wildcat Hall of Fame last spring and receiving an Alumni Association award in the 1980s, his wife said.
"He was a terrific man," Martie Proffitt said. "He was loving, honest, professional, smart and involved. He loved his family, and we will miss him horribly."
Proffitt is survived by two sons — Timothy. of Houston, and Paine. of Stoke-on-Trent, England — and a daughter, Lucia, who lives in Philadelphia. He also has five grandchildren.
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