Lesley Swick Van Ness was on trip in Florida when she “fell sick and was hospitalized,” a colleague shared in a press release
Lesley Swick Van Ness, a former information anchor in Illinois, has died. She was 42.
She died on Monday following a sudden sickness whereas on trip along with her household, in response to NBC affiliate WGEM-TV, the station the place she labored for over a decade.
“Lesley had been on trip along with her stunning household in Florida when she fell sick and was hospitalized final Thursday,” Jennifer Dale, the vice chairman of recruiting at Grey Tv, the place Van Ness was working on the time of her demise, wrote in a press release, per Muddy River Information.
“It’s with a really heavy coronary heart that we share some devastating information with you. Lesley Van Ness, who we’ve been so lucky to have as a part of the Grey household, handed away this (Monday) morning,” Dale wrote. “Lesley and her husband Tom have two valuable younger boys. Please maintain all of them in your prayers.”
Extra details about her demise was not shared, though in response to her obituary, she died in Naples.
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Van Ness started her profession with WGEM-TV as an intern, getting employed by the Quincy station after graduating from Illinois State College, in response to her LinkedIn web page.
Of their tribute, the station shared that she joined them as a reporter in 2003, happening to turn into a weekend anchor in 2006 and at last, a night anchor in 2008.
That final place was one she “held for nearly 9 years,” she wrote on LinkedIn.
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As her “household priorities modified,” Van Ness made a profession change in 2016, turning into a company recruiter for Quincy Media, which was acquired by Grey Tv in 2021.
“Now, I’ve the unbelievable alternative to develop Grey’s recruitment initiative into probably the greatest on this trade,” Van Ness, who labored as their director of expertise acquisition on the time of her demise, wrote on LinkedIn.
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Many who labored with Van Ness mourned her demise as they mirrored on the affect she had on them personally and professionally.
“She wasn’t afraid to do the soiled work and wasn’t afraid to work the additional hour, particularly if it was one thing that was actually impacting the neighborhood,” WGEM meteorologist Brian Inman instructed the station.
A colleague at Quincy Media stated she “helped numerous journalists and workers discover their first job in broadcasting” and “was the image of well being, positivity and vitality.”
Sharing one story that exemplified “her coronary heart,” anchor Typee Rebholz wrote that after saying her personal being pregnant, Van Ness “handed me a stack of 20+ maternity work clothes she not wanted.”
“She did not ask for something in return,” added Rebholz. “She liked serving to the youthful era of stories folks, particularly girls. She was a real cheerleader.”
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Natalie Will, who began as an intern at WGEM on the identical day as Van Ness, wrote that “From the primary dialog I had along with her, I knew she was a pressure to be reckoned with.”
Added the anchor, “She was fierce and pushed, and equally loyal, compassionate and caring. She’s going to significantly miss.”
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