Political columnist, Robert David Novak, died Tuesday at his home in Washington following a year-long battle with brain cancer.

Novak was known as The Prince of Darkness not by his enemies but by his friends because of his contacts and his power to move Washington D.C.
He was someone who loved being a journalist, loved journalism and loved his country and loved his family, Novak's wife, Geraldine, told the Sun-Times on Tuesday.

Novak was born and raised in Joliet and his first newspaper jobs were with the Joliet Herald-News and, while a student at the University of Illinois, the Champaign-Urbana Courier.

Novak's Inside Report syndicated column, shared for 30 years with the late Rowland Evans, was filled with Washington updates.