Wendy Rieger death: Popular Washington DC news anchor dies at age 65 from brain cancer
She died of glioblastoma, following a procedure last year to remove a cancerous tumor from her brain
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Longtime television news anchor Wendy Rieger, who co-presented NBC4’s 5pm broadcast in Washington DC for over 20 years, died on 16 April at the age of 65.
She died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that can occur in the brain or spine, and had also undergone a procedure last year to remove a cancerous tumor, reports said.
While the disease has no cure, it is treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Rieger was a common face on local television and was a part of the NBC4 network for over three decades.
In a statement NBC4 Washington said: “We lost our smart, vibrant, wonderful Wendy Rieger today.”
“For more than 30 years, NBC4 Washington viewers benefited from her unique style that blended humor, intelligence and compassion, and we are all better for knowing her.”
The statement added that she had been diagnosed with brain cancer almost a year ago and had undergone surgery.
She retired from the network in December “with an intent to savor the rest of her life and start a new chapter.”
“Her cancer returned aggressively several weeks ago, and she died this morning, holding the hand of her husband, Dan.”
Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Rieger was a graduate of American University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Rieger went on to work in radio for WAMU and WTOP.
Later she joined NBC4 in 1988 and became a news presenter for the network in 1996.
In an obituary the network praised her “unique coverage of hurricanes up and down the East Coast.”
Her stints outside the country included the Brazil Olympics, a royal wedding in England along with covering events from New Zealand and Vietnam.
Among other laurels, she has also won local Emmy Awards for her reporting on 20 years of the Vietnam war.
Condolences have poured in for Reiger from her former colleagues.
“For all these years, Wendy was Wendy: smart, funny, compassionate and authentically herself,” wrote NBC4 anchor Doreen Gentzler.
“She shared a lot of her life with us over the years talking about her homes, her cats, her boat, her love of wine and her love of the area from the waters of Maryland to the mountains of Virginia. And, of course, the culture of Washington.”
“Today a bright light went out at NBC4,” wrote her longtime co-host, Jim Handly, on Facebook.
In a statement Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser said on Twitter: “I’m heartbroken over the passing of one of DC’s most beloved anchors, Wendy Rieger.”
“Wendy delivered the news honestly — with humor, heart, & expertise and she will be missed dearly.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments