Veteran Erie TV journalist Scott Bremner known for writing, charm, memory and his fedora
When Paul Wagner reflects on his longtime colleague and fellow Erie television reporter Scott Bremner, it's not Bremner's writing, charm or beloved fedora that first comes to mind.
It's Bremner's formidable memory.
"We were both covering a trial and I was taking page after page of notes," said Wagner, who worked for WICU-TV in the 1980s and 90s when Bremner reported for WSEE-TV. "Scott would sit there and never take a note. I would later watch his report, thinking he must have missed some testimony. But he had all of it."
Bremner, who worked as a reporter, anchor and assignment editor at Erie TV stations for 40 years, died Monday of natural causes. He was 63.
Born in Ambridge, Bremner attended Grove City College and later earned a bachelor's degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He started his career as a video photography intern at WJET-TV in the early 1980s.
But Bremner spent most of his career at WSEE, where he was known for his versatility. He could cover breaking news and light features equally well, and he became known for his "Thoughts From Under the Hat" commentaries, which earned three Regional Emmy Awards.
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"Scott was one of the best writers for TV in town," said Rich Forsgren, a longtime Erie Times-News photographer and Bremner's closest friend. "He also was witty and charming on camera, and connected well with people. They were always coming up to him on the street."
Besides reporting, Bremner anchored WSEE's 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts at various times, and also hosted the station's "Newswatch Insider" community program.
Bremner left WSEE in 2014 and worked for about a year as director of marketing and development at Home Instead Senior Care — Erie. He returned to TV in 2015 as assignment director at WJET/WFXP.
"He would still go out and report when they needed someone," Forsgren said. "Scott loved being on the streets."
Though TV reporting was Bremner's main occupation, he also wrote columns for GoErie.com during the website's early years. He earned a first-place award for his online columns in 2000 from the Society of Newspaper Columnists.
Bremner also hosted a morning talk show on WJET-AM from December 2016 to January 2023.
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An avid sports enthusiast, Bremner participated in local golf, bowling, softball and dart leagues over the years.
He is survived by two grown daughters, Helen Bremner of Erie and Caroline Bremner of Allegany, New York.
Calling hours will be held May 19 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Dusckas-Taylor Funeral Home, 5151 Buffalo Road, with a service to follow at 7 p.m.
Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie, PA, TV reporter Scott Bremner dies at 63
