Wendy Rieger, longtime News4 anchor and reporter, died Saturday morning after battle with Glioblastoma. Wendy held her hand of her husband, Dan, how she passed away. She was 65 years old.
For almost 35 years, Wendy had way of lighting up screen. You would never quite know what you were going to get.
Except… yes, you would know exactly what you will get.
All these years, Wendy has been Wendy: smart, funny, compassionate, and herself.
She shared a lot of her life with us over The years speak of her home, her cats, her boat, her love. of wine and her love of in area out of the water of Maryland to the mountains of Virginia. AND, of of course culture of Washington.
Wendy came to Washington to study at American University. in DC Northwest Her Career Started in radio with her strong, harmonious voice outgoing from the air WAMU and WTOP.
However, when she started at News4, it was clear that Wendy belonged in front of in camera.
On the photos: 30 years of Wendy Rieger
You may remember Wendy unique coverage of hurricanes up and down East Coast. She is also report from the olympiad in Brazil, royal wedding in England and she pursued news from New Zealand to Vietnam.
AND, for 20 years old, she was that funny girlfriend to check out in with every evening at 5 o’clock. Her first table partner was Susan Kidd and then she spent 14 years with a guy she calls “Handley”.
The chemistry between Wendy and Jim Handley was magical from the start. start. The News4 team could hear their howling laughter from the dressing room to the newsroom.
Wendy was spontaneous and fun, but she also knew her business.
The producers always knew that Wendy could improvise. complicated foreign policy news or a turning point political story. She was one of in first television journalists regularly cover environment through her breakthrough seriesGreen.
And oh, she could write. Her scripts were standard that her colleagues sought to achieve. Jim Vance, our late colleague, described Wendy’s talent as “highly skilled.”
last story Wendy wrote that this is a sincere reflection on our late colleague Joe Krebs. She was going to miss his funeral that week because she wasn’t feeling well.
It turned out out that the brain tumor was cause of her symptoms. The diagnosis came just a few months after Wendy had open heart surgery. Wendy talked about this operation with News4 viewers because she wanted warn people pay attention to their symptoms.
Through everything of that – on TV and off Wendy showed us just which of she had strength. When she signed off in air 33 years later, we saw the eyes of our strong, intelligent, creative and inquisitive friend back with pride and go with hope.
Wendy Rieger lit news in COLUMBIA REGION for over 40 years. Now she’s ready start a new chapter in a life. In this video Wendy shares that she plans do what she will miss on NBC4 and tips for journalists.
Her cancer is back just a few months after that magical day.
In a note to the news department, she wrote the following: “How did you know I lived my life big and loud. It is mine nature. And I had an explosion. But there was silence over me, which is deep and powerful. I don’t know I could be so quiet Life is not always test. This is teaching. I must learn this lesson with Grace. And I will.”
And you did it, Wendy. You did with grace and dignity we will never forget.
Note from News4 family on passage of Wendy Rieger
Today we lost our smart, bright, wonderful Wendy Rieger.
Wendy loved life as much as she loved it. She had so many passions and she lived by sharing them with everyone she could. Behind more For over 30 years NBC4 viewers in Washington have benefited from it unique a style that mixes humor, intelligence and compassion and makes us all better for knowing her.
Wendy was diagnosed with almost brain cancer year ago. She underwent surgery and treatment, then retired in December with intention to enjoy the rest of her life and start a new chapter. Her cancer came back aggressively a few weeks ago and she died this morning holding her hand. of her husband Dan.
We send our love to Dan who was a colleague of our for decades, and her brothers, nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
.
