John Procope, 82, former president of Amsterdam News

NEW YORK -- John Procope, a former president and publisher of the Amsterdam News, a Harlem-based newspaper, died Friday.

He was 82 and died of complications of pneumonia, according to a statement released by the insurance brokerage firm E. G. Bowman, which was founded by Mr. Procope's wife. He had served as chairman of E. G. Bowman's board since 1982.

The Amsterdam News was founded by James Henry Anderson in 1909. W.E.B. Du Bois, Adam Clayton Powell, and Malcolm X are among the famous black Americans who have written for the newspaper.

Mr. Procope earned his bachelor's degree in business from Morgan State University, attended business school at New York University, and began his career in advertising.

A native New Yorker, he was a former president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. He also was a president of the Harlem Business Alliance and served as a trustee of Howard University for 15 years.

In addition to his wife, Ernesta, Mr. Procope leaves two sisters and three nephews.