[4], The first biography, Almost Golden: Jessica Savitch and the Selling of Television News (Simon & Schuster, 1988) by Gwenda Blair, told Savitch's story within the broader context of the history of network news. According to her two biographers, Gwenda Blair and Alanna Nash, Savitch was haunted throughout her life by her father's untimely death, and pursued a career partly to compensate for his loss.[4]. Savitch's flawed delivery fueled speculation that she was using drugs, specifically cocaine. And R.I.P Oldsmobile. Tragic as her death was and still is, its nearly fitting she died in such an ordinary, if humble car. Miss Savitch was in the back seat, Mr. Everett said, and Mr. Fischbein was in a seat belt at the wheel. I think of what might have been. In the early 1980s, with cable in its infancy andnetwork anchors dominating the airwaves,one of the most identifiable, and beloved, was NBCs Jessica Savitch. The bodies of Ms. Savitch and Fischbein and Ms. Savitch's Siberian Husky, Chewy, were found in a car mired in the bottom of a canal near Philadelphia. They are her living legacy.. I'll be wearing one of her amethyst birthstone rings - a gift from her sister, Lori, whose website celebrates Savitch's . He was a prominent figure in town. I knew the cars are only Nebensache (sideshow) in our lives. Jessica Hollifield, who used to reside in Lexington, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly. [Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.]. [23], Savitch's family and a group of her friends later sued the New York Post (whose insurance covered the leased car Fischbein was driving), Fischbein's estate, Chez Odette, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for damages in Savitch's death. In January 1983, in addition to her work for NBC, Savitch began hosting a new public affairs documentary program on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Frontline. Her success influenced numerous aspiring female newscasters to model themselves after her look and delivery. Jessicas trauma and drug abuse kept her from doing the same. ''The mud was knee-deep on the bottom,'' said Mario Lasarro, a member of the Lambertville, N. J., rescue squad that went to the scene on rural River Road. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. If it upsets you to read it maybe it was written for you . 50 Insanely Gruesome Photos Of The Human Body From Actual Autopsies. its amazing how much time and energy people will spend complaining about what they dont want to read, isnt it? Please, dont get me wrong. Its a bit rough around the edges. The Philadelphia area native left a highly acclaimed acting career to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco. [23], After autopsies, the Bucks County coroner ruled that both Savitch and Fischbein had died from asphyxiation by drowning. These had some interesting engine options. This article was taken down because I misidentified the wagon. I would read more stories on notable figures who died in cars. The settlement established the principle of equality of salary and longevity for women in television news, Arthur G. Raynes, a Philadelphia attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Miss Savitchs estate. However, she also completed the Philadelphia Police Academy training, and engaged in activities such as shooting a handgun, jumping over oil barrels, squeezing under a barrier, and climbing a 6-foot war. went to the inimitable Sen. Edward M. Ted Kennedy, who was aiming his 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 sedan across a bridge that wasnt in the direction of the ferry that Kopechne wanted to catch. She used the WCBS-TV facilities to make a television audition tape and sent copies to many television stations around the country, seeking an on-air position. On Jan. 6, 1980, she married Mel Korn, a Philadelphia advertising executive. As a kid I remember JS as being prominent in national TV journalism but knew nothing of her personal life or death. Twenty days later, Jessica Savitch drowned in a car accident in New Hope, Pennsylvania, on October 23, 1983. Jessica Savitch didnt, or perhaps couldnt; in that era, such a move would have been a career killer. Compared to the man, the ad was full of taste. The networks wanted her, but Westinghouse had ironclad contracts so she acted out and became a general terror to all. After her death, her family filed an insurance suit against New York Post, who had insured the car Fischbein was driving at the time of their death. Her rocky personal life made headlines too. Lets address the worst first. Comment. A local resident found the wreck at about 11:30 that night. She was a bit before my time, and although Ive never heard of her before now, the story of a celebritys downward spiral and death in a car accident sounds all too familiar . From then until her death in October 1983, Savitch's only regular appearances on NBC were on the NBC News Digest segments. That pile was handed down to me until I couldnt take it anymore and soon after I found myself signing the papers for a 1981 blue Cutlass wagon with the 231 V6, limited slip differential, A/C, split bench seat with passenger recliner and most other options these had at the time. [28] It was later made into a Lifetime Network made-for-TV movie starring Sela Ward, called Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story. In fact I thought the story reminds me of checking my priorities. The only chance she might have had would be out the tailgate if it could have been opened from the inside, and even then, it would have to be immediately before the car was completely engulfed in mud. The dashboard is that of a Cutlass, not the full size wagon shown above. If thats an actual picture of the car involved, then the story is wrong. She continued as host until her death later that year, at which time Judy Woodruff took over as host. With that in mind, I assumed that Death By Station Wagon meant this would be a story about how a woman (albeit a celebrity newscaster) was perhaps bored to death by her life as a station wagon driving drudge. Investigators said Fischbein, 34, mistakenly drove the car onto the towpath thinking it was an exit. She also hosted PBS's public affairs program Frontline from its January 1983 debut until her death as a passenger in an automobile accident later that year.Shortly before her death in October 1983, Savitch also became known for her performance during a broadcast of NBC News Digest in which her delivery was erratic and she appeared to be under . When management failed to act, Ellerbee and other correspondents had tried to reach out to Savitch, who died before anything could be done. [6], For the series entitled Lady Law, Savitch primarily interviewed female law enforcement professionals from other cities. Jessica was the daughter of a clothing store owner who died young. The inaccuracies involving the Cutlass give this story the tone of gruesome celebrity death spirals about on a par with The National Enquirer. [34], Savitch's life was also examined in several television documentaries. Since we are visiting a place where political correctness really was moot, Id like to mention its refreshing to see a womans name on the byline here. As a side note to a previous posters comments: I moved from Florida to Tennessee and then back to Florida a few years ago. Not an ad. Today, the choices are so great and the distribution of content so diverse the messenger is not in the spotlight to be idolized or scrutinized like they were back then. Dad brought home a 1979 green woody wagon back in 1983 equipped with the 305 4bbl Chevy V8 and loads of equipment and we loved that car. This email address is already subscribed to the selected list(s). But he said blood and tissue samples were taken for toxology tests. And, of course, she knew it and let the superstar thing take over her life. [1] Savitch began feeling anxious about her job and showed signs of emotional instability. (As a side note the correct make and model Olds[but not year] was used in the final scenes.). Fischbein may have missed posted warning signs in a heavy rainfall. She also hosted PBS's public affairs program Frontline from its January 1983 debut until her death as a passenger in an automobile accident later that year.[1]. She was 36 at the time of her death. That October night in 1983 was foggy and Fischbein, known as a careful driver, was confused about which way to go after leaving the restaurant. [citation needed], Savitch had a long-term intermittent relationship over many years with TV news executive Ron Kershaw, who himself had substance abuse problems and physically abused Savitch during their relationship. She was 36. The following year she became a general assignment reporter at KHOU- TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston. . TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. She would die tragically two days later. This is the infamous digest of legend. Anyone can read what you share. The lawsuit was filed in 1984 against the restaurant, Chez Odette; Fischbeins estate; the Department of Environmental Resources; John Nyari, whose family once owned the restaurant; News America Publishing Co., which publishes the New York Post and had leased the station wagon; and General Motors Corp., which built the vehicle. [4] Although both biographies contain similar material, Savitch's family and friends have challenged as untrue portions of the books regarding her reporting skills and controversial aspects of her personal life (see Personal life). He signed out a 1982 Oldsmobile station wagon from the Posts fleet, and they headed toward Bucks County, PA with Chewy in tow. Some of the money was used to establish scholarships for women studying for careers in broadcasting or journalism at Ithaca College and other institutions. Savitch was an extremely competent anchor, but had relatively little reporting experience and struggled as correspondent. Her report on a train derailment and fire received national exposure on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Investigators said Fischbein, 34, mistakenly drove the car onto the towpath thinking it was an exit. Savitch suffered from health problems throughout her life and was hospitalized several times for drug use and suicide attempts. Her incoherent reporting clashes bizarrely with. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Impressed with her performance, NBC offered her a three-year contract starting in September 1977 as a Washington, D.C. correspondent and anchor. It seemed acceptable at the time for news people to personify the stereotype of the hard hitting, hard drinking news reporter that sometimes showed their afflictions on camera. They drove about 600 feet over a dirt-and-gravel area, and past two warning signs. Neither Savitch nor Fischbein had any drugs other than alcohol in their system at the time of death, and they had consumed only small amounts of alcoholabout half a glass of wine each. Katz a tip, email him, The Jessica Savitch Distinguished Journalism Lecture Series, Technical Audio Producer (Part-Time Contract). She performed a later segment the same evening without issues. Recent speakers have included ABCs Sam Championand NBCs Lester Holt. A common thread has emerged in the comments on this article that leads back to my opening statement. He died a short time later. this kind of story is NOT what I come to Curbside Classics for. To send TVNewser senior editor A.J. townhouse. A 1982 TV Guide poll named her the fourth most trusted news anchor in the country, above many of the most established male anchors of the period. He said the couple apparently had eaten at a restaurant and were leaving the parking lot when the accident occurred. After falling approximately fifteen feet and landing upside down in four to five feet of water, the car sank into deep mud that sealed the doors shut. [2], Jessica Savitch was born February 1, 1947, in Wilmington, Delaware. According to The Washington Post, each of her biographers interviewed over 300 people in order to write their respective books. This CC catches me a bit off guard. Jessica had one divorce, then met a doctor with even worse drug troubles than hers, and married him. The series was also screened by community groups and state legislatures in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, helping to bring about legislative changes, and motivating several state and local governments to open rape crisis centers. So many possibilities lost. We're afraid she'll kill herself on our time." But through all this time, her relationship with the viewing public never faltered until October 3, 1983: She said she was healing after recent plastic surgery, was tired, faint, had a glass of wine on an empty stomach there were lots of excuses. Recently, legendary Detroit anchor Bill Bonds passed away. She was made Senate correspondent but she was in over her head. In life, Savitch was renowned for her audience appeal and her skill as an on-camera news reader, although she drew criticism for her relative lack of journalism experience. She also had a sister named Lori Savitch. I am Canadian and I remember watching her on American news programs, so her fame certainly wasnt local, but may have been confined to North American shores. His death was ruled a suicide. [19] Biographers have also asserted that Savitch was bisexual and had romantic relationships with women as well as men. At the time KYW hired Savitch, it was under pressure from the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) to place more women in then-non-traditional roles on the local news or else face a possible legal challenge to its broadcast license. In 1969, Savitch was hired as an administrative assistant at WCBS, the CBS Radio flagship news station in New York City, where she also did freelance production work. Growing up, it seemed that both beer and wine were less taboo than hard liquor, and obviously, any of the above will cause intoxication. Walter Everett, the chief of the New Hope police said that it had been raining and that visibility was very poor at the time of the accident. Miss Savitch had been with NBC since 1977. While attending Atlantic City High School, Savitch got a job co-hosting a show for teenagers on radio station WOND in Pleasantville. She holds an American nationality and practices Christianity. KYW refused to release her from her contract but agreed to raise her salary and (partly to satisfy NOW) make her a weeknight anchor. College tuition was practically unaffordable because our widowed mother still had two more children at home to raise and educate. She grew up, at times slightly impoverished, and had to fight to go to college and study broadcasting. The lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial in Philadelphia next week before Common Pleas Judge Bernard J. Goodheart. [11][15] Savitch, who was in New York at the time, found his body when she returned to the house. Death Cause of Jessica Savitch: Unfortunately, she is not physically present with us today. Thats very typical of the G-body cars interior trim was not durable in the slightest, and would quickly age/fall off/disintegrate but the car itself was generally sturdy and rugged, and the drivetrain options would last. Instead he bought the unfortunate 1979 blue Fairmont with butt numbing bench seat, no A/C and few options other than the 200 six and automatic. Cutlass was not made into its own marque aka Oldsmobile or Pontiac. One year later, news anchor Jessica Savitch lost her own life in a car accident in Bucks County. And she wasnt the driver, either; that honor (?) It had a two piece tailgatethe glass part was held up by gas struts which failed often and caused the glass to hit folks on the head (ow)..ask me how I know and the tailgate which swung down. That happened right after the first of the Ted Kennedy comments! Her father, a clothing store merchant, died when she was 12 years old. Some of the richest people I know will go out of their way to rent the least expensive cars on trips (especially for day trips outside of NYC)! One more thing-I remember the week she died as being a big week for news; first the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, and then the Great Big Battle of Grenada. http://www.people.com/article/elizabeth-vargas-marc-cohn-rehab-divorce, I never understood why getting drunk on wine=totally fine. There, she did on-camera and voiceover commercial work, and while still attending college became a popular top 40 disc jockey known as "Honeybee" at WBBF (now WROC-AM). On October 23 1983, Jessica Savitch met a fatal automobile accident, while returning home from shopping along with her then boyfriend Martin Fischbein. Philadelphia viewers responded enthusiastically to her on-camera presence, which was perceived as "magical" and triggering an "almost emotional bond" with the audience. He too battled addiction. Ive worked with many talented people, but none who could surpass Jess for a combination of ability, sensitivity and driveAn agent for Will Farrell contacted me a few weeks ago as Anchorman II was nearing completion to remind me that Jess and I had been the inspiration for the first Anchorman movieJesswas 25 years old when we first shared an anchor desk. Early on Aug. 2, 1981, a few months after she suffered a miscarriage, Miss Savitch returned from New York to find her husband hanging unconscious in the basement of their home. Always loved these A/G body station wagons and finding a good one that hasnt been ruined or chopped up is rare today. However, she blamed the problems on a teleprompter malfunction, while her agent said it was due to the effects of pain medication in relation to recent facial reconstructive surgery following a boating accident. Savitch was one of the first women to anchor an . (Thanks to all who pointed out my earlier error!). Lifes struggles are definitely more important than a character line along the side of a car and what someone else might think about it. . She was also assigned to anchor short NBC News updates (initially called NBC News Update, later called NBC News Capsule and NBC News Digest) that ran approximately one minute and aired between regular prime time programs each evening, drawing a high number of viewers. Get TVNewser delivered straight to your inbox, To send TVNewser senior editor A.J. Good thing GM doesnt make Oldsmobiles anymore . According to the window sticker mine actually came with a no charge 3.08:1 rear gear or code GU4 as a 2.73 was standard on 231 V6 wagons and sedans came with 2.41 gears. 'She had overcome many difficulties in her life and now leaves behind many friends and fans all over the country,' said Tom Pettit, executive vice president of NBC. In Tennessee, liquor stores are NOT allowed to sell any kind of food. That should have been determined murder or man slaughter at the very least he killed her and didnt report it what if she could have been saved. Jessica Beth Savitch (February 1, 1947 October 23, 1983) was an American television journalist who was the weekend anchor of NBC Nightly News and daily newsreader for NBC News during the late 1970s and early 1980s. She also had anchored public television's "Frontline," a weekly documentary series begun in January. I dont know that Ive ever heard such a thing. On the long-form TODAY show piece, which aired almost exactly thirty . Lynne, I salute your efforts here and look forward to more pieces from you. Her father is David Savitch, and her mother is Florence nee Goldberger, a navy nurse. This woman [Savitch] is in trouble." Both biographers also write that Savitch had a problem with cocaine that eventually affected her career. Despite Savitch's competence and success as an anchor, by 1983 NBC was beginning to shift its focus to other female anchors, particularly Connie Chung. Dick John, the manager who hired her, said he did so because he was impressed with her ambition as well as her copywriting and speaking skills. What would the point be for me to write about Jimmy Dean or Clay Regazzoni? She was the first female disc jockey in the Pleasantville area. Interesting, chilling account. The Philadelphia Daily News reported one lawyer said the New York Post, whose insurance covered the leased station wagon in which Miss Savitch died, paid $7 million of the settlement. Learn how your comment data is processed. If she were alive today, Id tell her what I should have said to her back then: that she was a good human being, a talented woman, whose fame was no accident. Never heard of her I guess her fame was local but death by drunk driver is still common despite the warnings. According to officials in Bucks County, Miss Savitch, who was 35 years old, and Martin Fischbein, 34, the vice president and assistant general manager of The New York Post, were found inside a station wagon that was upside down in five feet of water in the Delaware Canal near New Hope, 30 miles northeast of Philadelphia. This wagon was officially known as a Cutlass Cruiser, until it morphed into a Ciera a few years later. Kind of sad, but still nice to know someone else out there remembers Jessica. You suppose the reader judge by the cover of the book or title of the article? (Crim delivered the eulogy at her memorial service after her death.) [4][19][20] These assertions were disputed by Savitch's family and some of her friends after her death. Bucks County coroner Thomas Rosko ruled late yesterday that both victims died of drowning.He said it appeared that Miss Savitch had made some attempt to get out of the Oldsmobile station wagon, but that Mr. Fischbein was found strapped into the driver's seat. Her mother, who was a nurse, moved with her three daughters to Margate, N.J. Miss Savitch began her broadcast career with a radio station in Atlantic City at the age of 14, and later became a disc jockey for a rock show in Rochester, N.Y., where she was known as "Honeybee." It ended in an auto accident 12 years ago, but she is still one of the most talked-about personalities ever. which no one seems to mind. I am old enough to have seen Ms. Savitchs newscasts but had forgotten the details surrounding her death. IncidentallyI found a TV movie of her life based on her book featuring Sela Ward playng Jessica. NBCsAndrea Mitchell: Jessica Savitch was a warm-hearted, caring person and a pioneer in broadcasting who lost her life tragically just as she was soaring to new heights. I was like dude, you have to wait!'. He drove out of the wrong exit from the restaurant and up the towpath of the old Pennsylvania Canal's Delaware Division on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. I remember Jessica Savage. Sadly, Elizabeth Vargas seems to be suffering similar problems. [1] Almost Golden states there had been several accidents and one fatality at this location. The interior trim pieces did not last long but I recall the drivetrain as being very durable, which is why Dad liked them. At KHOU she was hailed as the first anchorwoman in the South (although that would be contested). The G body wagons were nice, but always looked very plain without the woodgrain. Dontea White, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, shared the news of Jessica Hollifield's death on Facebook. Wiki and People did a better job reporting this.but they didnt have to find a way to make the car a killer. The Savitch family also established The Jessica Savitch Distinguished Journalism Lecture Seriesat Ithaca College. Jessica Savitch seemed to have the world at her fingers. Thats good enough for me. I am not personally affected by their accidents. I do remember this accident being in the news. Her contemporary Diane Sawyer went on to have a much more durable career and homelife. [1][14] Korn reportedly divorced Savitch after learning that she had a significant drug problem. ''The visibility was very poor.'' Miss Savitch was born on Feb. 1, 1948, at Kennett Square, Pa. I remember her well, and as an aside her younger sister Lori worked at WPXI TV in Pittsburgh as a local anchor in the early 1990s. This series won her two awards, but also left her with sore muscles and a wrenched back for some weeks afterwards. The Bonneville version was kind of a rare bird, actually, only produced for 1982-83. Now 85, Crim has a 352-page autobiography, "Anchored: A Journalist's Search for Truth," which talks about everything from growing up in Illinois to his TV . The article prompted my to look her up and read her quite compelling story. She was offered the anchor position for an early-morning news program Early Today but turned it down. [29] When first aired, Almost Golden earned the second-highest rating ever for a cable television film up to that point. Linda Ellerbee grew concerned and gathered a group to stage an intervention. NBC News president Reuven Frank said she served as "an example for many young women looking for a career in television journalism, as a symbol of the gradual disappearance of the obstacles to women in broadcast journalism.". It was posted two days ago but was temporarily withdrawn for revision. In this photo shes roughly 35. All the cars I ever had from Olds were decent and reliable, except the last one. To date, there have been 163 scholarship recipients of almost $700,000. Death by Station Wagon: The Fall of Jessica Savitch By Lynne Vogt - Posted on December 31, 2014 At the height of her fame she was known for Gucci belts, Halston dresses, piles of cocaine, penthouses and pills. Savitch constantly worked on improving her news reading delivery, using a voice coach and other techniques. Lynne, it does have something to do with cars. its akin to the James Deans Porsche, the Kennedy SS100X Lincoln and Jayne Mansfields Electra 225. [12][18], According to her biographers Blair and Nash, Savitch was a driven perfectionist who constantly battled insecurities about her appearance and ability, suffered from social anxiety, and tended to isolate herself from network colleagues. As I told Paul, Im on a learning curve. the Ultimate Violation", won a Clarion Award for excellence from Women in Communications, Inc. The reputation followed her to NBC. Friends say this started a long, dark spiral that ended with her death. The eldest daughter of David Savitch, a clothing merchant and Florence Spadoni, a registered nurse. Nobody ever talked about her big heart, her loyalty, her sense of humor, and her fabulousness as a person She had this wonderful combination of credibility and a beautiful smile., Former NBC NewserFred Francis: When a big breaking story came with her about to go onair she was always totally pumped. Prior to joining NBC News, she was a popular local anchorwoman in Philadelphia and before that, while working at a Houston television station, she was the first female news anchor in the South. '', Miss Savitch received four Emmy Awards and the Alfred I. Dupont-Columbia University Award for local reporting. Its limo dreams in a station wagon reality. In order to counter criticism that she had been hired for her looks and promoted ahead of skilled journalists, NBC also assigned her to do reporting work, including a brief stint as U.S. Senate correspondent. In June 1983, NBC removed Savitch from her regular Saturday evening anchor slot and replaced her with Chung, who also accepted the Early Today position that Savitch had rejected. Original humor magazine thats a LOL. An NBC spokesman said the two were engaged. one in the photo above. Resentment from coworkers hurt, and led to her eventually being pulled off the Senate beat. Jessica Beth Savitch (February 1, 1947 - October 23, 1983) was an American television news presenter and correspondent, best known for being the weekend anchor of NBC Nightly News and daily presenter of NBC News updates during the late 1970s and early 1980s. [citation needed] Shortly before she left KYW, Savitch exploded in an angry tantrum during a commercial break because the pages of her news script had been provided out of order. There are no guardrails and it was raining heavily at the time. According to Nash and John Gregory Dunne (who worked on the screenplay and wrote the book Monster: Living Off the Big Screen about the making of the film), this was because the filmmakers, including The Walt Disney Company that was financing the film, considered Savitch's life story too downbeat to be popular at the box office. However, if you are buying hard liquor and look older than 21its the sellers judgement call if he/she cards you the buyer. She was 36. They aged well. Despite her local acclaim, Savitch aspired to leave local news and become a network correspondent. According to astrology, she had Aquarius as her zodiac sign. Miss Savitch had suffered a number of personal misfortunes in recent years. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- A colleague who eulogized Jessica Savitch at a private funeral for family and friends, called the death of the NBC television newswoman 'a tremendous loss . The crew recorded it without sound, added background music from Aram Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance", and circulated the resulting tape to industry contacts, causing the tape of Savitch's tantrum to arrive at NBC before she began her new job and present her in a negative light to her new colleagues. Its always sad to see one whos light shines so brightly , flame out . The station wagon veered too far to the left and went over the edge into the shallow water of the canal. She lived in New York City. A sad story. Jessicas time at NBC was filled with uncertainty, and with the uncertainty came drug use. The series won her a Clarion Award from Women in Communications Inc. Miss Savitch was hired by NBC in September 1977 as a Congressional correspondent. Trim and upholstery durability was much improved but the bodies were twisty and creaky and mechanically they were rubbish. Her life was the subject of a Lifetime Television made-for-TV movie, starring Sela Ward, called "Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story." The movie "Up Close & Personal" (1996, with Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer) was originally intended as a biographical film about her but the plot of the movie was substantially changed to become a . Classic Cars of Infamy. Its not an ad, but a page from The National Lampoon..

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