Peter Ruehl
Encyclopedia
Vincent Peter Ruehl, known as Peter Ruehl (29 March 1947 – 11 April 2011) was an American-born Australian newspaper columnist
, best known for the humorous column he wrote thrice weekly for The Australian Financial Review
, in which he offered an American view on life in Australia. During his career, he also contributed to The Australian
and The Daily Telegraph
.
in Washington, D.C., and later moved to Annapolis
where he studied at the University of Maryland
and worked as a court reporter for The Baltimore Sun
. In 1983, the paper asked him to provide coverage of the 1983 America's Cup
in Newport, Rhode Island
, during which time he met his future wife, fellow journalist Jennifer Hewett, who had been assigned to the same event by The Sydney Morning Herald
. They got married and then moved to Australia in 1987.
His first piece of journalism in Australia was his coverage of the 1987 America's Cup
for the Australian Financial Review, a paper for which he continued to write for most of his career. It was his satirical column in this paper that brought him recognition, leading Roger Johnstone (chief executive of the Financial Review Group) to praise him as a 'one of a kind in Australian journalism'.
, with his wife Jennifer and their three children, Mercedes, John and Tom. According to colleague Colleen Ryan, Ruehl had a few close select friends and "could be quite introverted", preferring to spend time with his family or writing.
His sister is Academy Award-winning actress Mercedes Ruehl
.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, best known for the humorous column he wrote thrice weekly for The Australian Financial Review
The Australian Financial Review
The Australian Financial Review is a leading business and finance newspaper in Australia.Fairfax Media publishes it in a compact format six days a week, Monday to Saturday....
, in which he offered an American view on life in Australia. During his career, he also contributed to The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
and The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
.
Biography
Ruehl was born in New York City, the son of an FBI agent. He was educated at Gonzaga College High SchoolGonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
in Washington, D.C., and later moved to Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
where he studied at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and worked as a court reporter for The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
. In 1983, the paper asked him to provide coverage of the 1983 America's Cup
1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club who had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, during which time he met his future wife, fellow journalist Jennifer Hewett, who had been assigned to the same event by The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
. They got married and then moved to Australia in 1987.
His first piece of journalism in Australia was his coverage of the 1987 America's Cup
1987 America's Cup
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-seventh challenge for the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club....
for the Australian Financial Review, a paper for which he continued to write for most of his career. It was his satirical column in this paper that brought him recognition, leading Roger Johnstone (chief executive of the Financial Review Group) to praise him as a 'one of a kind in Australian journalism'.
Family and personal life
At the time of his death, Ruehl lived in the eastern Sydney suburb of ClovellyClovelly, New South Wales
Clovelly is a small beach-side suburb in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Clovelly is located 8 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick, within the Federal Division of Wentworth.Clovelly...
, with his wife Jennifer and their three children, Mercedes, John and Tom. According to colleague Colleen Ryan, Ruehl had a few close select friends and "could be quite introverted", preferring to spend time with his family or writing.
His sister is Academy Award-winning actress Mercedes Ruehl
Mercedes Ruehl
Mercedes J. Ruehl is an American theater, television and film actor.-Personal life:Ruehl was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, the daughter of Mercedes J., a school teacher, and Vincent Ruehl, an FBI agent. She was raised Catholic. Her father was of German and Irish descent and her...
.