'Our hearts are broken': Longtime TCPalm reporter Janet Begley remembered

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — People often forgot they were speaking to a reporter when Janet Begley interviewed them. Often, they left thinking they'd just had a conversation with a friend.

"She made friends wherever she went," said Bob Begley, Begley's husband of 41 years. "They always felt they were talking to a friend."

Begley, 66, who died Aug. 11 after complications related to a stroke, was a professional journalist whose deep commitment to the communities she covered shined through in her stories. She was a longtime freelance correspondent for TCPalm and the Indian River Press Journal, covering Fellsmere, Indian River Shores, Orchid, Sebastian and Vero Beach.

'She printed the truth'

"She was one of my favorite people," Fellsmere Mayor Joel Tyson said. "She wanted to know what was going on, and she would listen. She printed the truth. She didn't make up things."

"She was fair, objective and she wanted to get the story right," Vero Beach City Manager Monte Falls said. "She was a real professional. She wanted it to be right."

Begley always was fair in her coverage, said Sebastian City Councilman Bob McPartlan, who knew her for about 12 years.

"She always wrote what happened. You got the story of what actually happened," McPartlan said. "She was honest, she had integrity. She cared about the local stories."

The loss is felt by her longtime colleagues and sources, many who expressed heartfelt tributes to Begley as word of her death spread.

“Janet had a big heart and truly cared about the community. She had an amazing ability to connect with readers and sources," said TCPalm and Press Journal Executive Editor Adam Neal. "She was highly respected and always fair, honest and accurate. That’s what made her such a good journalist, and a great person. Janet helped make our community and everyone around her better."

An integral part of her community

Begley was more than a reporter covering stories. Since moving to Vero Beach in 2005 from upstate New York, she became an integral part of her community, working with several nonprofit organizations.

Begley worked with the Cultural Council of Indian River County for more than 15 years as the organization's financial manager.

"Janet was full of life, had energy, loved new ideas, was open-minded, keenly evaluated issues and embraced practical solutions," said operations manager Alicia Quinn, who worked with Begley for more than 10 years. "She was a doer not a talker, a solution not a problem, a giver not a taker; everything you appreciate in a team member and friend."

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"Janet was a good friend as well as colleague," Quinn said in a text message. "Her sudden loss leaves us all in shock and off balance. She was so integral to our operation and our management team that I personally will miss her forever."

Begley wrote the grant application for the Gifford Community Cultural and Resource Center, securing a $493,000 state grant to help the center and museum get started, said the center's CEO Jonnie Mae Perry.

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"Our hearts are broken, and in a bit of shock," Perry said. "She will be missed. Her energy will be missed."

Begley's death left a void in the hearts of many who knew her, said Operation Hope president Jesse Zermeno, who developed a strong friendship with Begley after she reported on events for the Fellsmere nonprofit organization.

"She had a tremendous heart," Zermeno remembered. "When I received the news, I cried because I was so shocked. It's unbelievable. This wonderful woman, she was in my heart so much. I'm going to miss her so much. She made a difference in the community."

She was all about telling stories, with many to tell

Begley never wanted to make a fuss about herself, said Bob Begley. She would be a little embarrassed about the attention given to her now, he said. But Begley was about telling stories, he said. And she had many to tell.

After graduating from the College of New Rochelle with a degree in journalism, Begley embarked on a career in public relations and marketing. She was a public-information officer for several school districts in New York and was a member of the National Press Club.

While working as assistant to the public-information officer in Yonkers, New York, she was awarded a prestigious Clio advertising award for her work on a campaign to improve the city's image. The campaign, Bob Begley said, worked so well that Yonkers was chosen as the location for the movie "Sooner or Later" starring Rex Smith. Her name is listed several places in the closing credits, he said.

She and Bob Begley opened Image First Communications, an early form of a UPS store. Begley worked the business, while working for the Poughkeepsie Journal and raising two children, he said.

"She was my rock and my guiding light," he said.

When the Begleys moved to Indian River County, she was hired by the Sebastian Sun, a weekly newspaper owned by the E.W. Scripps Co.

"Janet was an integral part of our community, known for her compassion and considerable reporting skills. That’s why everyone knew her and reached out to her when needed. She had her fingers on the pulse of Indian River County and took great interest in making it a better place for us all to live. She really knew her stuff," said former editor Louise Phillipine.

"When you read one of her stories, you were getting news that was accurate, truthful, fair and unbiased. She always worked at getting both sides and understanding the topic so she could make her stories both fair and understandable," Phillipine said.

After Phillipine retired from TCPalm, she and Begley continued their friendship, often talking about their families, their dogs and happenings in Sebastian.

"I knew she’d be there for me whenever I needed help or advice and that I would be there for her, as well," Phillipine said. "I’m so grateful to have known her. She was a wonderful person."

A celebration of life will be held 1-3 p.m. Sept. 23 at McKee Gardens, 350 U.S. 1, Vero Beach.

Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm. Contact her at colleen.wixon@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Longtime TCPalm reporter Janet Begley died Aug. 11 following stroke