Written by Jorge Fitz-Gibbon Sydney Stanton, a former reporter and editor for the Port Chester Daily Item, a predecessor of The Journal News, died Feb. 10 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, N.J. She was 89. Born in Gloversville, Stanton earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and began working as a reporter for The Daily Item on Oct. 17, 1966. Stanton became the Sound Shore newspaper's features editor, writing and overseeing coverage of local arts, entertainment and culture at the Daily Item, one of 10 Lower Hudson Valley newspapers purchased by Gannett Co. In a 2001 interview with The Journal News, Stanton recalled working out of the Item's historic former home on Westchester Avenue. "As far as we were concerned, it was the greatest place there was," Stanton told the newspaper. "There were crazy things that were happening all the time." The newspaper's offices were later relocated to Harrison, where Stanton continued to work as a features editor until her retirement in 1989, just four months shy of her 23rd year with the paper. "She was truly dedicated to community journalism, and she was a great ambassador for the newspaper in the community," recalled Journal News morning local editor Mike Meaney, who worked with Stanton at the Daily Item. "Among her co-workers, she was known for the great parties she threw at her home. She was such a warm person. She made us all feel as if we were family." Her son Thomas spoke fondly of his mother's ties with the community and the friendships with her co-workers. "She was very warm and a had a great sense of humor," he said. Stanton also instilled an appreciation for journalism and education in her children. "We are all good writers in some manner," said her son, a public relations executive for McGraw-Hill. Stanton remained in Rye Brook after retiring, and was an occasional contributor to the newspaper where she once worked. She moved to Rahway in recent years. As the industry continues to evolve with technology and the internet, Thomas Stanton said his mom would have done well in this era. "She went went from manual and electric typewriters to computers," he said. "She probably would have adapted well." Stanton is survived by her daughters, Lynn Bains of Scotland, Susan Kane of Washington and Hilary Zunin of California, and a son, Thomas Stanton of Roselle Park. She is also survived five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, her family said. Funeral services were handled by Sullivan Funeral Home in Roselle, N.J.