Jump to content

Jim Vance (1942-2017) - Beloved Washintgon, DC News Anchor at NBC for 45 Years


DonRocks

Recommended Posts

2 minutes ago, Pat said:

Jim Vance :(  This made me so sad, and I haven't watched local news in ages. He was just such a DC institution, it's hard to believe he's gone.  On a trivial note,  I didn't realize until I read the obituary that he was born in the same town my father was...

Jim Vance spoke at my elementary school. :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Pat said:

Jim Vance :(  This made me so sad, and I haven't watched local news in ages. He was just such a DC institution, it's hard to believe he's gone.  On a trivial note,  I didn't realize until I read the obituary that he was born in the same town my father was...

He came to my first workplace in DC (well, Bethesda) and did a report on our organization as part of a series on religion in Washington. Seeing him walk down the hallway, he was larger than life, even to a newcomer. And this will probably sound all wrong to some, but what I admired most about him is that he was so unapologetically Black. Certainly, all newscasters play a certain character to some degree, but you never once caught Jim Vance changing himself to appeal to white audiences. I don't know anyone else in the TV news media who could do that like him, and I don't think anyone ever will. What a man.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

51 minutes ago, Pat said:

Jim Vance :(  This made me so sad, and I haven't watched local news in ages. He was just such a DC institution, it's hard to believe he's gone.

I feel the same way. I also haven't watched local news in ages, but I still watched it when I first moved to the area in 1998, and I always liked Jim Vance. Total DC institution.

26 minutes ago, Tujague said:

And this will probably sound all wrong to some, but what I admired most about him is that he was so unapologetically Black.

I totally agree with this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Pat said:

Jim Vance :(  This made me so sad, and I haven't watched local news in ages. He was just such a DC institution, it's hard to believe he's gone.  On a trivial note,  I didn't realize until I read the obituary that he was born in the same town my father was...

We moved from DC to North Carolina last winter.  Just yesterday, I was thinking about how much I missed Jim Vance.  I watched him for decades and there was no one better.  I especially appreciated his Vance's View editorials in which he would speak his mind freely and often offer what would be considered in some circles as controversial opinions.  I can't think of a single time that I disagreed with him.  He was a giant of a man and someone you just assumed would be there for you forever.  DC is so much poorer today.  

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Before Tuesday night's game at Nats Park, there was a nice tribute to Jim Vance, complete with video of him throwing out the first pitch at a Nats game and followed by a moment of silence.  I hadn't been expecting this, but it certainly seemed fitting for someone who was such a part of DC. Lots of applause from the crowd.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks to Pat for beginning this thread with a toast - Jim Vance deserves his own thread in the TV forum (arguably the History Forum): He is a Washington, DC legend.

I did not realize he lived in Silver Spring.

Don't take this the wrong way, please. Jim Vance always reminded me, personally, of John Lucas - because when I was a kid, they both came and spoke at my schools (within a year-or-so of each other), both wrestled with cocaine addiction - ultimately with courage and grace, and both men came into my life at nearly the same time. Not to mention the fact that they were both immense talents, near the very top of their respective professions.

The world is a worse place without Jim Vance in it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I only watched him on local news once I moved to DC.  As comments above stated, I loved that he had a real personality and was always so genuine. Matt and I would always laugh as he liked to have the last word most evenings, even if it was something silly. He will really be missed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...