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June 09, 2005
Mary Ellen Locher has passed away
From Channel 9's site.
This is a sad, sad day.
Our deepest condolences go out to Mary Ellen's family, friends and co-workers.
Channel 9's press release:
Veteran NewsChannel 9 Anchor MaryEllen Locher Passes Away After Long Fight With Cancer
WTVC Television today announces the death of award-winning NewsChannel 9 co-anchor MaryEllen Locher. MaryEllen died overnight with her husband David and son Alex at her side.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be determined.
MaryEllen’s death comes just two days after the announcement of her retirement from WTVC after almost 20 years as reporter, then anchor-reporter.
“As we at NewsChannel 9 suffer over this announcement, our thoughts and prayers are centered on David, Alex and the rest of MaryEllen’s family. We know our viewers will understand how difficult it will be maintaining our professionalism while presenting the day’s news,” said news director Tom Henderson.
“Today is a sad day. The NewsChannel 9 family has lost a loved associate and the Tennessee Valley has lost a true icon and good person. We have to remember that David and Alex have said goodbye to a loving wife and mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and all of MaryEllen’s family and close friends.” said Mike Costa, WTVC Vice President and General Manager.
During her career at NewsChannel 9, the station benefited greatly from her hard work and success. MaryEllen won awards for Best Newscast, Best News Team, and Best News Series Reporter by the Tennessee Associated Press. Viewers responded by keeping NewsChannel 9’s newscasts top rated.
MaryEllen has battled cancer since its first occurrence sixteen years ago. Her personal experiences with the disease have influenced her civic commitments. She founded the not for profit Hats from the Heart program, giving free hats to cancer patients onsite at cancer treatment centers. MaryEllen also founded Children of Breast Cancer Foundation. This non-profit organization provides endowment money to public colleges and universities for children who have lost a mother to breast cancer.
MaryEllen most recently was honored by Memorial Hospital with the naming of their Breast Cancer Center as The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial. The goal of the center, according to Memorial Hospital, is to streamline the patient’s experience with the best care possible as expeditiously as possible. It will combine the latest in technological and clinical advances with an emphasis on the whole person body, mind and spirit. Construction of the center is set to begin no later than July 2006.
| By colrus | 11:41 AM
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» Mary Ellen Locher from 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera
This is sad news. In a field of babbling bobbleheads and attention-seekers, she was refreshingly down-to-earth. (Via the Pulse Blog)... [Read More]
Tracked on June 9, 2005 01:26 PM
