Memories of Don Hewitt

"60 Minutes" correspondent Morley Safer eulogizes Don Hewitt at a memorial service for the late television news pioneer at Frederick P. Rose Hall on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in New York. Hewitt was an innovator even before creating CBS' "60 Minutes," producing the first televised presidential debate in 1960.

During the memorial service, Don Hewitt's son in-law, Bill Cassara, told about Hewitt asking his family to spend much of a weekend filming him driving and trying to "lip-synch" to Frank Sinatra's music. Cassara showed some of the hilarious outtakes.

"60 Minutes" correspondent Morley Safer, eulogizes "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt at a memorial service for the late television news pioneer Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in New York. Hewitt's arguments about stories with "60 Minutes" correspondents Safer and Mike Wallace were legendary, although Safer said his former boss held a grudge for about 15 minutes.

Good friend and actor Alan Alda with his wife, Arlene, listen during the memorial of "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt, Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in New York. The late television news pioneer was described as a quick and curious showman who maintained a childlike enthusiasm for life and his work, whose credo for stories big and small was "tell me a story."

"60 Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager eulogizes "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt at a memorial service for the late television news pioneer Monday, Oct. 19. 2009, in New York. Fager recalled seeing Hewitt at Walter Cronkite's funeral and the old producer confided that it was great, but he would have done it in half the time. "In his honor today, we're going to do our best to keep it to 60 minutes," he said.

Actor Alan Alda, a neighbor and friend of Don Hewitt, described him as "an unassuming person who accomplished extraordinary things." Alda said, "He never lost touch with simple humanity."

Scott Pelley and Andy Rooney of CBS' "60 Minutes" listen during the memorial of "60 Minutes creator Don Hewitt, the late television news pioneer, Monday, Oct. 16, 2009, in New York. Speakers included CBS CEO Les Moonves, "Sesame Street" creator Joan Ganz Cooney, close Hewitt friend Alan Alda, and members of Hewitt's family.

Morley Safer and Bob Simon of "60 Minutes" chat just before the start of the memorial for "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt, Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in New York. Hewitt died of pancreatic cancer on Aug. 19. He was 86 years old.