Newswatch 16 has learned that long-time anchor Nolan Johannes has passed away.
For many years our friend Nolan Johannes sat up here and told the news of the day.
Nolan came to Newswatch 16 after working in New York State as an announcer, the guy who did commercials, station I.D.s, told of upcoming shows. He also read some news, but did not claim to be a journalist, a photographer, a producer. He was an announcer--hard to accept that in a place that calls itself The News Station.
Still, he had his chance and luckily for everyone it worked out.
Nolan was the regular guy who did the news: nothing fancy, ordinary suits and ties, no ultra-stylish haircut.
Nolan was just Nolan and you folks at home loved that about him.
News is often not good and that's how it's always been. Still, when Nolan Johannes read it the story somehow became gentler, if that's possible. He read it quietly, distinctly, matter of factly, with an air of calm and dignity.
He was reassuring in the most troubling of times, his voice that of a kindly gentleman, explaining the events of the day all the while knowing many were not good but knowing that we needed to hear them anyway.
When the show was over he returned to his desk and began preparing the next show for that is the way it is done.
My desk was near his and sometimes we'd talk about this and that--family, kids, vacations, maybe--the problems all of us face at one time or another.
His comments were thoughtful, considerate, perhaps with a bit of humor mixed in and I valued them all.
When he left here we all gathered around him on the set for one last time. It was hard saying goodbye then, it is harder now.
We knew him and loved him just as much as you, dear viewer.
Nolan Johannes brought dignity to the news, brought friendship to us all. It was very good that he did.
Nolan was 81 years old.
