The very talented Gwen Ifill — author, journalist, co-anchor of the PBS News-Hour and moderator of Washington Week — died Monday from uterine cancer.
She was a too-young 61.
Last spring Ifill was named the recipient of the William Allen White citation, an annual award given by the journalism school at the University of Kansas and just one of many accomplishments Ifill had earned over her 40-year career.
She will be remembered for her warm smile, her positive nature, her keen intellect, her passion to seek out truth and her sheer determination to succeed not only as a woman, but an African American woman.
In addition to broadcast news, Ifill had worked as a reporter for the prestigious Washington Post and The New York Times — gold standards of the business.
For the last several years, Ifill worked alongside Judy Woodruff as co-anchor of the NewsHour. Their obvious friendship lent a warmth to the program making us viewers feel we were part of their close circle despite the fact the news program was based on cold, hard facts.
She was a role model for women, aspiring journalists and people of color.
She lived her life to its fullest, which of all her achievements, was perhaps the most impressive.
— Susan Lynn
