Peter Jennings died yesterday of lung cancer at the age of 67. It was only four months ago that he announced he was sick.
I obviously didn't know the guy, but this makes me profoundly sad. As someone with a degree in journalism, I've always respected him as someone interested in the people, the story and the details. He always appeared genuine.
Not only that, but Jennings was the anchor on ABC News for more than two thirds of my life. I was 10 when he got the job. Through the biggest moments in history, from the fall of communism to the events of 9/11, he was the one that shared the story with me.
There will never be another Peter Jennings. I suspect the days of nightly network television news are numbered, and even if it did stick around, there will never be another guy quite as solid as him.