NEW YORK -- Bernard J. Lett, director of correspondents for SN's parent, Fairchild Publications here, died March 12 following a long bout with cancer. He was 78.
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Lett joined Fairchild in 1936 as distribution manager at the age of 18 and spent almost the rest of his life with the company. From 1942 to 1945, he was a U.S. Marine, participating in the landing on Guadalcanal -- one of the key battles of World War II -- and other engagements in the Pacific. He emerged from the Marines as a technical sergeant.
When the war ended, Lett returned to Fairchild. In the early 1960s, he was transferred to Indianapolis as bureau chief, but returned to New York a year later. He was named director of all FNS correspondents in April 1962. Except for a brief stint as Long Island bureau chief, he ran the network until several months ago, when his condition worsened. Lett is survived by his wife, Lucia; three sons, William, Jeffrey and Terrence; a brother, Paul; and eight grandchildren.
