Wilton resident Dave Barrett passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Barrett, an award-winning reporter for CBS News Radio, was 63. He was a news correspondent and longtime anchor of the “World News Roundup Late Edition” for the radio network.
We are sad to report a death in the CBS family. Longtime correspondent and anchor of the World News Roundup Late Edition Dave Barrett has died at the age of 63. He will be missed by all who had to pleasure of working with him and hearing his voice on the radio. pic.twitter.com/9rgzeogdCy
— CBS News Radio (@CBSNewsRadio) September 19, 2018
Tributes poured out Wednesday from colleagues and friends who remembered Barrett as “a special kind of broadcaster,” and a one-of-a-kind journalist.
Craig Swagger, general manager of CBS News Radio, released a statement on Twitter:
Today we lost one of the most talented Radio journalist. Dave Barrett, award winning radio Correspontent & Anchor, died today. He was 63. Dave was a special kind of broadcaster-one who could transport you to the scene of the story. He will be dearly missed. @CBSNewsRadio pic.twitter.com/6niFs3QUAj
— Craig N Swagler (@SwaglerC) September 19, 2018
Barrett won the coveted Edward R. Murrow Award three times. His CBS colleague Peter King wrote, “We at CBS News Radio will be poorer without his talent, friendship, passion and enthusiasm.”
According to Variety, Barrett was CBS News Radio’s go-to reporter for outdoor events and reported from 10 Olympic Games.
On Wednesday evening, his colleague Dave Chenevey anchored the broadcast Barrett had led for several years, and paid tribute during the program. “Dave was a creative force in our newsroom, a storyteller who knew how to mix facts and sound to keep people listening.”
Barrett’s friendship with broadcaster Jim Nantz of CBS Sports stretched back to college days, and Nantz called his friend’s career a great one that covered many bases.
“From sports to news to play-by-play, to long-form storytelling to features, Dave did it all, but his career was just too short. It was a life that had many years to go, and many stories to tell. It’s a very sad day for anyone who had the great honor of knowing Dave Barrett.”
Professional awards came early for Barrett. In 1977 he won the Associated Press award for Best Sportscast in Texas. His experience covering sports was vast–according to TVNewser.com, Barrett covered Super Bowls, NCAA championships. the British Open, Wimbledon, the NBA Finals and the Kentucky Derby for ESPN Radio. But his talent made him versatile–reporting on political conventions, hurricanes, and the Persian Gulf region.
Joan Bepler and Ken Knox were longtime Wilton neighbors and friends of Barrett. Bepler shared her memories and tribute to GOOD Morning Wilton.
“Dave was a person of great enthusiasm not only for radio journalism and telling stories through that medium, but also for holidays (and holiday specific attire, i.e. hats), sports (particularly his beloved Bluefish baseball team), the space program, music and the many things that struck him as making for an interesting story. He loved to bake and regularly entered the Grange Fair baking contest. The best carrot cake and pecan pie I’ve ever tasted were baked by Dave. He loved Dave Brubeck and was thrilled to be given the assignment to cover the Kennedy Center Honors when Brubeck received the award. He loved the Wilton Library and lent his voice to the live auction during the Beyond Words fundraiser there. When my husband and I returned home from China after adopting our daughter during the SARS crisis, Dave interviewed us for a radio piece and presented us with the recording which became a treasured keepsake. Dave was truly a creative communicator who loved to make things and make them special.”
Barrett was born in Buffalo, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and son, Luke.