SCHEER: Recalling Judy Kay, a gifted columnist who left a mark on Gazette newsroom
Nov. 28—By the time I got to the Niagara Gazette to start my first tour of duty in September 1999, Judy Kay was already firmly entrenched as a seasoned reporter and columnist for the newspaper.
It's been so long ago now that it's honestly hard for me to recall the details.
I feel like I sat at a desk near her desk in the newsroom on the second floor of the old Gazette building on Niagara Street.
We chatted occasionally, but we did not work together long enough to become close.
What I knew about Judy came mostly by way of her reputation.
Thinking about her today, she reminds me of a throwback to a sadly fading class of community journalists, the kind who understood the importance of paying attention to details, getting the facts straight and, when necessary, aiming for the heart to tell compelling stories about real people that real people actually wanted to read.
In other words, by all accounts, Judy Kay was a pro, the type of reporter whose style captured the attention of thousands of readers who regularly looked forward to reading her stories and, most especially, her columns.
Judy Kay, it seems, also left a mark on many of the people who worked with her in the Gazette newsroom.
The sad news came across on Facebook that Judy Kay passed away over the holiday weekend.
Dozens of former Gazette staffers shared thoughts about Judy Kay whom they described as not only a professional journalist but also a highly regarded colleague, mentor and friend.
Former Gazette city editor Cathalena Burch described her as "such a badass" who was almost always referred to as "Judy Kay" and almost never just "Judy."
"Her wonderfully balanced demeanor and personality made her a fabulous journalist," Burch wrote in a post on the "Life after the Gazette" Facebook page. "I loved her writing. I loved the way she interviewed people. She laughed with her sources and sometimes cried. And sometimes she could be relentless and unbending when we pushed her to do hard news. I learned a lot from you Ms. Kay."
Karen Carr Keefe, former Gazette opinion page editor and former managing editor of the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, worked with Judy Kay for many years and recalled her as a "warm person" who was "wise and funny."
"She was kind and thoughtful. It was great to collaborate with her, and I cherish her friendship over the years," Carr Keefe wrote in another Facebook post.
Rick Jensen, who also served as an editor with the Gazette during Judy Kay's tenure, agreed.
"Judy was among those who made the Gazette a special place for us and our readers," Jensen wrote on Facebook. "Most of all, she was a warm, gifted and wonderful person. I'm incredibly sad to hear of her passing."
One of her long-time friends, Cheryl Irish-Butera, recalled how Judy Kay had "Xtra Xtra" as the personalized license plate on her car.
"She was an amazing lady," Irish-Butera said.
We will have additional coverage about Judy Kay and her life and work at the Niagara Gazette in a future edition.
Mark Scheer welcomes comments via email at mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com and by telephone at 716-282-2311, ext. 2254. Follow him on Twitter @ByMarkScheer.
