Lesley Swick Van Ness, who worked as an anchor for WGEM-TV as well as an executive for Gray Television was pronounced dead on Monday in Naples, Fla.
“She could walk into the newsroom and instantly take over. She just had a commanding presence about her.”“She wasn’t afraid to do the dirty work and wasn’t afraid to work the extra hour, especially if it was something that was really impacting the community,” said WGEM-TV meteorologist Brian Inman.lesley.swick/Facebook
Van Ness, a graduate of Illinois State University, began her career as a reporter at WGEM-TV, the NBC local affiliate in Quincy, Ill., in 2003, according to her LinkedIn page. In 2006, she transitioned to a weekend anchor position. Two years later, she was anchoring the weekday editions of the evening and late night newscasts.
Van Ness then moved over to the corporate side of the business. In 2016, she was named talent acquisition specialist for Quincy Media.Van Ness began her career as a reporter for NBC affiliate WGEM-TV in Quincy, Ill.“Family priorities changed and I jumped at the chance to become Quincy Media’s first corporate recruiter from 2016 to 2021,” Van Ness wrote on her LinkedIn page.
In 2021, Gray Television acquired Quincy Media — giving the newly merged entity a network of local television stations in 113 markets.“In the eyes of a small community she was a celebrity,” Tom and Neat Brower wrote in response to an online obituary.“When I think of Leslie I bring up memories of a beautiful child swimming in the Hamilton swimming pool,” Tom and Neat Brower wrote in their heartfelt message.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Maren Morris, Jonathan Van Ness to Be Honored at 2023 GLAAD Media AwardsThe singer will be presented with the excellence in media award for her work in making “a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people.”
Read more »
Ali Wong, Jonathan Van Ness, Anthony Jeselnik Join Just For Laughs Festival LineupThe veterans of Netflix comedy specials and scripted fare will bring their touring shows to Montreal for its 41st edition.
Read more »
Man crossing midtown Tucson street dies after being struck by vanThe 78-year-old man was crossing near the intersection of East Glenn Street and North Richey Boulevard last month when Tucson police say he was struck.
Read more »
Jersey swamp rock mesmerizes on Reese Van Riper’s ‘Saints’ | TestaReese Van Riper's unique blend of “Jersey swamp rock' is heard on the group's latest album, “Saints,” a mesmerizing gumbo drawn from Delta blues, the Louisiana bayou, American garage rock, and Appalachian folk songs.
Read more »
126 LAFD firefighters respond to Van Nuys commercial building fireSeveral units in the 15,500-square-foot building were engulfed in flames, and it took crews 56 minutes to extinguish the blaze.
Read more »