Fate can be unkind.  MORLEY SAFER, who had just retired at 84 this week after a distinguished broadcasting career, has died.  According to the news his final words were “it’s been a wonderful ride.”

  TORONTO-born, educated at Harbord Collegiate and the University of Western Ontario, MORLEY SAFER began his journalism career as a newspaper reporter, moved on to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as a correspondent and producer, and in 1964 was hired by CBS News as a foreign correspondent based in London.

In 1970 Safer joined the on-camera ’60 Minutes’ crew. He’s been with the program ever since, retiring this week at 84, after completing 919 documentaries.