Date of Birth: April 3, 1916
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Date of Death: February 1, 1997
Biography
Herbert Eugene Caen, better known as Herb Caen, was a renowned American newspaper columnist whose career spanned nearly six decades. Born in Sacramento, California, Caen moved to San Francisco in 1936 and started working for the San Francisco Chronicle, where he eventually became a fixture. His daily column became a beloved part of the city’s cultural fabric, blending humor, wit, and keen observations of life in San Francisco. Caen’s writing style, often described as “three-dot journalism” due to his frequent use of ellipses, made his columns easily recognizable and highly popular. Over the years, he won numerous awards, including a special Pulitzer Prize in 1996 for his exceptional contribution to journalism. Caen remained a dedicated columnist until his death in 1997, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence San Francisco journalism and culture.
5 Interesting Facts about Herb Caen
1. Herb Caen coined the term “beatnik” in 1958, which became synonymous with the Beat Generation.
2. He wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle for nearly 60 years, with a brief stint at the San Francisco Examiner.
3. Caen was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize in 1996 for his distinguished career and impact on San Francisco.
4. He was known for his “three-dot journalism” style, which used ellipses to separate ideas and observations.
5. A bronze plaque commemorating Herb Caen’s contributions to San Francisco journalism is embedded in the sidewalk at the corner of Broadway and Columbus Avenue in San Francisco.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Herb Caen
1. “One day if I do go to heaven, I’ll look around and say, ‘It ain’t bad, but it ain’t San Francisco.’”
2. “San Francisco has only one drawback—’tis hard to leave.”
3. “A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams.”
4. “The trouble with born-again Californians is that they are insufferably proud of having found San Francisco.”
5. “The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on forever.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Herb Caen’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
Herb Caen had one son, Christopher Caen, who also pursued a career in writing and journalism.
Relevant Links
1. [Herb Caen – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Caen
3. [Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for Herb Caen](https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/herb-caen
4. [Herb Caen on SFGate](https://www.sfgate.com/herbcaen/
