Peter Jennings passed away

[Jessie]

:(

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050808/ap_on_en_tv/obit_jennings



ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings Dies at 67

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer 3 minutes ago

Peter Jennings, the suave, Canadian-born broadcaster who delivered the news to Americans each night in five separate decades, died Sunday. He was 67.

Jennings, who announced in April that he had lung cancer, died at his New York home, ABC News President David Westin said.

"Peter has been our colleague, our friend, and our leader in so many ways. None of us will be the same without him," Westin said.

With Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather, Jennings was part of a triumvirate that dominated network news for more than two decades, through the birth of cable news and the Internet. His smooth delivery and years of international reporting experience made Jennings particularly popular among urban dwellers.

Jennings was the face of ABC News whenever a big story broke. He logged more than 60 hours on the air during the week of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, offering a soothing sense of continuity during a troubled time.


"There are a lot of people who think our job is to reassure the public every night that their home, their community and their nation is safe," he told author Jeff Alan. "I don't subscribe to that at all. I subscribe to leaving people with essentially — sorry it's a cliche — a rough draft of history. Some days it's reassuring, some days it's absolutely destructive."

Jennings' announcement four months ago that the longtime would begin treatment for lung cancer came as a shock.

"I will continue to do the broadcast," he said, his voice husky, in a taped message that night. "On good days, my voice will not always be like this."

But although Jennings occasionally came to the office, he never again appeared on the air.

[MLA]

I'm watching World New Tonight right now. It's so very sad. I loved Peter Jennings, and his death has actually brought tears to my eyes. :(:(:(

[Sophia]

OMG, this is so sad. I'm actually crying.

[MLA]

OMG, this is so sad. I'm actually crying.

Me too! Well, not anymore, but I was. I grew up with Peter Jennings. It feels so wrong that he's gone. :(

[TracieB]

OMG! That's so sad and unexpected! It seems like yesterday he was making the announcement that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

WOw... I'm really sad about this!!

[Sposa06]

I'm stunned. I'm still too caught up in disbelief to be sad ... hasn't really sunk in yet. But I grew up listening to him tell me what was going on in the world. I can't believe he has died.

[sarahh]

I just read this on MSNBC...I had NO idea his cancer was that severe! :( So sad!

[J&T2005]

He's such an icon! Wow, this is amazingly sad.

[suzubeane]

I just read this on MSNBC...I had NO idea his cancer was that severe! :( So sad!I also had the impression his prognosis was good. Maybe that was the face he put on when he announced it.

[Asha]

i am very saddened by this. he is a true role model. his passion, ethics, and talent is something everyone should strive for in their life and career.

[ButterflyJen]

Whoa, I had no idea. How very sad. :(

[IrisHope]

I just can't believe he died. I'm actually sad.

[sunshineab622]

I just read this also .... How sad - He only live 4 months after announcing he had lung cancer .... That was quick.

RIP Peter J .....
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050808/capt.ny13408080355.obit_peter_jennings_ny134.jpg?x =143&y=185&sig=ymoGI91vETpgV07O5kkSYA--

[sheartm7]

So sad - I had no idea he would pass on so quickly. :(

[filmgirl7]

I remember when I first moved to NYC, my favorite time of the day was when I would sit down with dinner and watch World News Tonight. Peter Jennings was like a favorite uncle....so familiar and soothing every evening. I had noticed in the past four months that many other anchors had covered the show....I was always hoping PJ would come back on, and I'm sad that he never did. :( I really will miss him. :(

[eli1126]

I heard this morning and found myself crying. I can't say that I thought the prognosis was good although I hoped that I would be wrong :(

Beth

[oneday someday]

I remember watching Peter Jennings on TV from when I was younger (about 5 or 6) and throughout high school and college (ABC was always the news station of choice in my household). The media world has definitely lost an amazing journalist. My condolences go out to his wife and two sons.

[DiscoDiva]

So sad. Granted, I didn't know him, but he seemed like a good and decent person. He will be missed.

[MaineBelle]

I'm with you oneday someday, we always watched ABC news growing up in my house. I was shocked to hear the news. I feel like Peter Jennings was always there with me in times of crisis. I happened to be home from school the day the Challenger exploded and I still remember him talking me through what happen. He was the one I watched through most of the 9-11 coverage. I am sad.

[lawyerlee]

I merged IrisHope's thread into this older one on the topic. Please remeber to search before posting a new thread. :)

[lawyerlee]

I thought these quotes, mostly from his colleagues, were cool. :)

Reaction to death of Peter Jennings (http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/08/jennings.reax.ap/index.html)

Barbara Walters, ABC colleague: "No one could ad lib like Peter. ... You would think that it was all scripted, he was so poetic, but it wasn't."

Diane Sawyer, ABC colleague: "He really did make us raise our sights."

Dan Rather, former CBS anchor: "Make no mistake, inside that tall, handsome, elegant and eloquent exterior, inside that, beat the heart of a fierce but principled competitor."

Tom Brokaw, former NBC anchor: "We were not just competitors and colleagues, we were friends. We had a lot of opportunities to reflect on this in the last year. It was a competitive brotherhood."

David Westin, ABC president: Kayce (Jennings' wife) told me earlier this evening that 'Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he'd lived a good life."'

Ted Koppel, ABC colleague: "He was a student for the rest of his life, even though he had dropped out (of school) so early -- not `even,' because he had dropped out so early. I think if there was one message he would like to leave with young people today it is, 'Don't do what I did."'

Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico: "He always had the courage to ask the tough questions and demand answers. He set a high standard for TV journalists and his influence will be felt for generations to come."

[lawyergirl25]

I am very sad. :(

[houseblend]

I couldn't sleep last night and so was channel surfing when I saw the news. Even though I knew he has cancer, his death seemed so sudden to me. I grew up watching him. I remember in the 8th grade we were required to watch the nightly news and I chose to watch Peter Jennings over the others. I've been a fan of his ever since. :(

[wendalah]

I'm sad. He was too young to die. My dad is only two years older than him. Superficially, he looked great for his age. He was a handsome man. And he certainly had a rewarding, fascinating, lengthy career.

[Rose]

I am so sad. I also didn't realize he was so sick. He will be missed.

[alootikki]

I'm watching ABC's tribute to him right now - so sad :(

[filmgirl7]

What a touching tribute. Fabulously done. I cried! :(