Osborn Elliott, 83; Newsweek Editor Fueled Magazine's Success

He considered a career in advertising or finance but instead joined the staff of the Journal of Commerce in New York. He started as a reporter, then became nonferrous metals editor and finally a tax-exempt bonds columnist.

In a 1976 Esquire profile, Merle Miller quoted an old Elliott friend: "Until he happened onto journalism, Oz never took anything seriously. Journalism changed his whole life."

On the recommendation of his first wife, who was working in the personnel department of Time, he applied for a job at the magazine and was hired in 1949 as a contributing editor on the business beat. Three years later, he became associate editor at Time and then jumped to Newsweek.

After his years at Newsweek and in city government, he returned to journalism when he became dean of the Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism in 1978. The school's endowment doubled during his seven-year tenure, and he established two major centers: the Poliak Center for First Amendment Studies and the George T. Delacorte Center for Magazine Journalism.

In retirement, he spent much of his time at his summer home in Stonington, Conn.

Mr. Elliott's marriage to Dierdre Marie Spencer ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Inger Abrahamsen Elliott of New York; three daughters from his first marriage, Diana Elliott Lidofsky, Cynthia Elliott and Dorinda Elliott, and three stepchildren from the second marriage, Kari McCabe, Alec McCabe and Marit McCabe; 17 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.