Cokie Roberts, NPR Correspondent, Dies

Most people who are in radio have people to thank for their love of broadcasting, and Cokie Roberts is one on my list.

Cokie Roberts has been on the radio since the 1970s, when radio, and most of America, wasn't overly (professionally) friendly to females. Cokie, in my opinion, blazed right through that mess.

Contrary to what many people think, broadcasters' knobs are not stuck on one station. Yes, I love our radio station and listen frequently, but it is a good idea (and also required of us from time-to-time) to flip through the dial to keep a thumb on what other stations are doing.

One voice I always stop on is the voice of Cokie Roberts. Originally from New Orleans, she attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart before embarking on her life journey. That journey took her to far-away worlds, just so she could bring them closer to us through her journalism.

Her career spanned several journalism and broadcasting companies, including ABC, CBS, and the one probably closest to her heart, NPR. She has authored several books, won numerous awards, and won the hearts of many through her no-nonsense, rough-and-tumble reporting.

I never met Cokie Roberts nor do I think I know anyone who has, but it's like I know her, like she is family, and I have a heavy heart and a lump in my throat as I type these words.

Thank you, Cokie Roberts. Thank you for exposing the facts, asking the tough questions, withstanding the unfairness of the workplace, and leading the way for other women.

But mostly, thank you for the inspiration, and for being a voice that brought me comfort.

Cokie Roberts died today from complications due to breast cancer. She was 75.

(NPR, Wiki)