On Friday, five veteran Advertiser newsroom staffers retired, taking with them institutional knowledge, familiar bylines and more than 180 years of collective experience we can't replace.

Overall, about 30 employees have left The Advertiser from all departments to take advantage of some generous buyout provisions. While it's natural to be happy for them, there's an emotional and physical void for the rest of us.

They are not only some of the finest journalists I have ever worked with, but their class and humility speak volumes.

Let's start with Jerry, whose knowledge of the political scene is unparalleled. It's something to sit down with Jerry and ask him to explain a bit of history and to hear the tales he's gathered over 38 years at The Advertiser.

"My most memorable assignments were elections and the national political conventions, which I began covering in 1976 — amazing exercises in politics and democracy in a hothouse atmosphere," said Burris, who has been the editorial page editor, city editor, public affairs editor, columnist, chief political reporter, capitol bureau chief and reporter. "My most memorable individual assignment (as well as the most exhausting) was covering President Clinton's historic trip to China in the summer of 1998."

Fortunately, Jerry will continue to write for us on key issues relating to politics next year through his column and blog. He also will have a hand in our 2008 election coverage.

His wife, Bev Creamer, is delightful and we continue to marvel at how hard she works and how completely disheveled her desk has become over her 35 years at The Advertiser. She has covered just about everything here and her most recent assignment was back in the Island Life section, where she worked for many years chronicling personal drama. When we needed someone to tell a touching personal tale, we'd call on Bev.

She cited a number of stories she'll always remember: trying to piece together (along with the entire newsroom) the background of Honolulu resident Mark David Chapman the night he gunned down John Lennon; covering the aftermath of the Challenger explosion which took the life of Ellison Onizuka (whom Bev had interviewed weeks before); or following the early creation of Hokule'a by interviewing Nainoa Thompson and other voyaging pioneers.

Bev creates wonderful jewelry and will try her hand at designing, marketing and selling her craft to a wider audience but will always miss her second family at The Advertiser.

"The Advertiser is the place where we raised our kids — and are now watching a new generation of young mothers do the same," she said. "It's the place where we grew up, too, in a way, and learned more about the place we live than we ever would have done."

Graphics artist Greg Taylor, after nearly 38 years at The Advertiser, has no regrets.

"There have been many friendships but we all must move on at some time in our lives, and this is my time," he said. "I can feel it and it feels good."

His final assignment, a gorgeous two-page graphic of the Hawai'i Superferry, is also his most memorable, although we had to delay its publication because of the ongoing controversy.

Future plans call for Greg to slow down, relax and tackle all those things at home that never got finished.

"Once all my home projects are completed, I will be embarking on a fine-arts career," he said. "That journey has just begun."

Ken Kobayashi, our respected courts writer, completes 32 1/2 years at The Advertiser, and he has spent the past few weeks reminiscing with friends about all the great trials and issues he has covered, including the landmark 1993 Hawai'i Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage. Ken could always be counted on to take a complex legal issue and make it simple for the reader. The next time a big case develops, we will miss Ken's expertise and thoughtful coverage.

After 37 1/2 years at The Advertiser, Jan finds his Hokule'a voyage to the Northwestern Hawaiian islands among his most memorable assignments, as well as several hurricanes and the destruction caused by Kilauea in the 1980s. Even now in his final days here, Jan is covering the protests of the Hawaii Superferry at Nawiliwili Harbor.

What will he miss? "Professional and concerned co-workers, the clout of working for the Big Paper, an opportunity to make a difference, whether through education, on the environment, and public discourse on current issues. The paycheck, of course."

Five incredible journalists are gone and it's a tossup as to whether the readers or the newsroom will miss them more.