Chuck Geiss, owner and publisher of the former Birmingham alt-weekly Black & White, has reportedly passed away after several months of health problems:

A longtime fixture on Birmingham’s media scene, Geiss ran Black & White from 1992 until it ceased publication early this year, a victim of the contraction of the print news industry nationwide in the face of advancing digital alternatives. Geiss also was well known in Birmingham for charitable and volunteer work. He was among the founders of Do Dah Day, an annual music festival and parade that benefits animal charities.

[Kerry] Echols, who worked for Geiss for 21 years, said he was unique among business owners in that he was almost universally liked.

Black & White suspended publication in January with the intent to re-launch after reevaluating its business model.

“Rather than make adjustments here and there to our existing model, we want
to break everything down and rebuild from the ground up with a fresh perspective,” the paper said in its last note to readers. (PDF) “We’ll see you in a few months.”