Good-bye Peter

The death of Peter Jennings this week caught me off guard. I remember that he had left the evening news, remembered he was sick, but never expected to hear this kind of news so soon. I only knew Peter as that calm and comforting news presence, but it is amazing how used to that kind of presence one can become.

The news of his death created an odd coincidence in my life. Last week, I was in Dallas for business, and had a few extra hours to visit the city. I went to Dealey Plaza, to see the Kennedy assassination site, and to visit the museum in the Book Depository building. On the top floor of the building was a special exhibit dedicated to the journalists who covered the tragedy. There was the Cronkite news footage, him being perhaps the most legendary news icon ever, breaking down as he announced the death. There was the infamous film of the shooting of Oswald, something many of us witnessed live on television. And there also, was a panel devoted to Peter Jennings. A Canadian reporter at the time, he was in the airport when he heard something about the shooting. He called his boss, told him there was only one flight going to Dallas, and asked, should he go. His boss said no. Jennings went anyway.

As the reality of the news reached our Canadian neighbors, Jennings was a step ahead of all the others, thus beginning his reputation for getting to the story first. It wasn't too long after that when he was hired in the US. I read this story with admiration and surprise, I had never known that Jennings was a reporter in that era.

Then, I return to New Jersey, to the sad news of his passing, and I think, this is one story he didn't need to rush to cover. And now, hearing the additional sad news that the non-smoking widow of Christopher Reeve has announced that she, too, has lung cancer, I say to those people in my life who still insist on lighting up - quit now. This horrid disease can get anyone, but why invite it in.