New York Times publisher dead at 86

Sulzberger died Saturday at his home in Southampton, New York, after a long illness, the paper said, citing his family, Kazinform refers to CNN.

He started in 1963 as both publisher of the paper and chairman and chief executive of The New York Times Company. He left the publisher's job in 1992 and the chief executive's job in 1997, handing both reins to his son, the paper reported.

The Sulzberger family has helmed the paper since 1896, when it was bought by Adolph Ochs, Sulzberger's grandfather.

With the family having such a long history at the Times, some staffers felt like part of the family, too.

"For those of us working at the NYT, the passing of Arthur O. Sulzberger has the sharp feel of a death in the family," wrote Times national correspondent John Schwartz on Twitter.

Jim Roberts, an assistant managing editor at the Times, called the late publisher a "monumental contributor to journalism."

U.S. President Barack Obama said he was saddened by news of Sulzberger's death

"He was a firm believer in the importance of a free and independent press -- one that isn't afraid to seek the truth, hold those in power accountable, and tell the stories that need to be told," Obama said in a statement.

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