Sam Amico
Popular Illinois news anchor Lesley Swick-Van Ness died while vacationing with her family in Florida after a brief and sudden illness that seemingly remains a mystery. She was just 42-years-old.
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Van Ness was an anchor at NBC affiliate WGEM-TV in Quincy, as well as an executive for corporate parent Gray Television.
“It is with a very heavy heart that we share some devastating news with you,” Jennifer Dale, the vice president of recruiting at Gray Television, said in a statement posted to Muddy River News.
“Lesley Van Ness, who we have been so fortunate to have as part of the Gray family, passed away this (Monday) morning. … Lesley had been on vacation with her beautiful family in Florida when she fell ill and was hospitalized last Thursday.”
“Lesley and her husband Tom have two precious young boys,” the statement continued. “Please keep all of them in your prayers.”
Lesley Swick-Van Ness
Van Ness joined WGEM as a reporter in 2003. She became a weekend anchor in 2006 and a weekday anchor two years after that. So she had been in her current role for 15 years.
In 2016, she was named talent acquisition specialist for the parent company.
”She was a powerful personality,” Matt Schmidt, an anchor at WGEM from 2007-14 told the station in a remembrance.
“She could walk into the newsroom and instantly take over. She just had a commanding presence about her.”
Van Ness’ funeral will take be held at St. John’s Anglican Parish in Quincy at 10 a.m. Monday. There will be no visitation, though friends and family can attend, the obit states.
