PERSON: Lesley Van Ness (Deceased)

Former broadcast journalist

Lesley was born in Macomb, Illinois, to Sterling and Jan Swick and graduated from Hamilton High School in 1999. She earned her Bachelor of Science cum laude from Illinois State University in 2003, where she made her mark with ISU Department of Communications’ TV‑10 news team.

Lesley built a celebrated career at WGEM, rising from intern to beloved evening anchor. Over 13 years, she earned both awards and viewers’ hearts with her professionalism, warmth, and charisma. In 2021, she became Gray Television’s first Director of Talent Acquisition championing future journalists in over 113 markets through internships, fellowships, and hands-on opportunities.

A devoted wife to Tom, whom she married in 2012, and a loving mother to Sterling and Cameron, Lesley filled her home with laughter and creativity. Though not by trade, she became a master cake decorator for her boys’ birthdays and instilled deep values of reading, learning, and kindness. Together, Lesley and Tom shared adventures from World Series celebrations and Final Fours to Dave Matthews Band concerts, Broadway, beach vacations and above all loved raising their sons.

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