Phil Jasner dies, was DN reporter

Phil Jasner, 68, who covered the 76ers for 29 of his 38 years with the Daily News and was inducted last month into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, died Friday at his home after a two-year battle with cancer.

Mr. Jasner covered the Sixers full-time since 1981 and had been writing stories up until last month. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Nov. 11.

"He was in great shape that night," Daily News managing editor Pat McLoone said.

The next day the paper was understaffed, and Jasner was asked to cover St. Joseph's basketball loss to Western Kentucky, McLoone said. It was the last game he covered for the newspaper.

Mr. Jasner's health quickly declined and he was admitted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He returned home for hospice care this week.

He graduated from Temple University and worked for newspapers in the suburbs and for the Trentonian before joining the Daily News in 1972.

In an article this year, Mr. Jasner recalled the thrill of covering Julius Erving and the Sixers of that era. "That was a ride you couldn't duplicate," he said.

His wife, Susan, died in 2006. He is survived by a son, Andy. Funeral arrangements were being completed Friday night.