Last week, Channel 5 made an announcement that will affect not just WCVB but every viewer that has followed Chronicle throughout its journey for the last twenty-five years. Hearing the words that Mary was leaving and her last show will be in May, was devastating to hear. This news spread not only throughout Channel 5 but also across every form of media in Boston. The idea of Chronicle without Mary is a tough thing to accept and that is because the last twenty-five plus years, Mary has touched the lives of everyone she has met as well as the people at home that only know her as an incredible journalist.
Chronicle is the longest running locally produced nightly News Magazine in the country and one of the key driving forces behind that success is Mary. Over the years, she has stood in front of our cameras in destinations throughout the world and has brought back not just stories but true journalism and reported them with the grace that only Mary can do. Many of the awards that WCVB has been proud to win have had Mary’s signature all over them, and most recently, The Pinnacle Award, which is a lifetime achievement award that Mary definitely deserves.
Three questions that I generally get on the road once people find out that I am with Chronicle are, is Mary going to be here, what is Mary really like and is Mary as nice in person as she comes across on television. After spending over twenty years traveling across the country together, you get to know someone very well. In fact, Mary calls me her second husband because we spend so much time together. One thing that I can say is that Mary is not afraid of anything. The word danger is not even part of her vocabulary, which is why we have been able to do so many interesting stories. I can honestly tell you that I have been blessed to not only be a friend but a working companion to one of the most thoughtful people I have ever met in my life. Her smile is real and so are the tears that fall during a heart wrenching interview and that is because she truly cares.
As hard as it will be for all of us in Chronicle to say goodbye, we also want to wish her the very best for the future. Holding onto what we truly cherish would mean that we would never let her go, but life changes. The gift that Mary has left to all of us is a show called Chronicle and I say that because without years of endless hours of dedication, Chronicle would not be what it is today.
Over the next few weeks, I would like to share a few stories from the road where Mary and I have had a lot of laughs together. They will include the time we went to Alaska, searching for polar bears in Manitoba, cruising up the Mississippi River on a paddle boat, almost getting eaten by crocodiles in Mexico, and the list goes on. I look for to sharing these stories with you.
Bob – thanks for telling me about your blog! I’m enjoying the photos and your stories. I, like many, hear Mary’s voice when we think of Chronicle. It’s nice to know that the on-screen persona was matched by a fearless and friendly “real life” personality. Too rare these days, but no doubt part of the success at Chronicle.
Cheers,
J