Veteran Fairfield journalist L’Ecluse dies
FAIRFIELD — Award-winning Daily Republic journalist Kathleen L’Ecluse died Monday after a long and public bout with cancer. She was 54.
L’Ecluse began her tenure with the DR as a reporter in 1984 and rose through the ranks to lead the newsroom as city editor. In recent years she served as the Opinion Page editor, sat on the newspaper’s editorial board and coordinated special projects both for the DR’s website and for the print edition.
Foy McNaughton, publisher of the DR and president and chief executive officer of McNaughton Newspapers, described L’Ecluse as “a tough journalist, the kind they do not make anymore.”
“Kathy demanded stories that dug deep into the subject, stories that got to the essence of the subject with facts and no fluff,” he said. “This newspaper will greatly miss her, but her spirit will always be here.”
Former DR editor and publisher Bill James described L’Ecluse as “a consummate journalist who elevated the quality of newsgathering at the Daily Republic throughout her career.”
Marla Pugh, a close friend of L’Ecluse for many years and the DR’s managing editor during part of L’Ecluse’s time at the paper, said L’Ecluse shared her passion for journalism, particularly investigative journalism, with those who came through the newsroom over the years.
“She was a stable figure for generations of journalists who started at the DR or spent time in the newsroom,” Pugh said.
L’Ecluse also interacted with public officials throughout her career, even after she became an editor.
Vice Mayor Chuck Timm recalled working with L’Ecluse when he was a Fairfield police officer. The relationship continued once he retired and was then elected to the City Council.
“She was a Fairfield gal at heart and was looking out for the community,” Timm said. “We didn’t always agree on everything. I’ll miss her.”
He described L’Ecluse as a tough but fair journalist who had the utmost integrity.
“If I had a business, she would be the kind of person I would employ,” Timm said.
L’Ecluse fought cancer for the better part of a decade, and did so in a very public way. She often wrote in her Opinion Page column about her cancer and the various treatments she received over the years.
“She was strong and brave through her tragic but courageous battle with breast cancer,” James said. “My admiration for her continued to grow as she refused to give in.”
Pugh said wherever she went, people knew of L’Ecluse in part because of the hard-hitting reporting she did but also because of the personal nature of many of her columns.
“Everybody knew Kathy,” Pugh said. “She was very open and honest about her cancer.”
Pugh said she has spoken to many people in the local medical community who were familiar with L’Ecluse’s struggle with cancer, which included three different types of the disease, two of which she overcame.
“She fought this disease harder than anybody else that they have seen,” Pugh said.
L’Ecluse remained active in the newsroom until she was hospitalized last month. She underwent surgery last week and at the time of her death was set to begin rehabilitation to regain her strength and endurance.
“She loved the newspaper. She loved what she did. She loved telling stories and giving people a voice. And I’m grateful that she was able to do that right up almost to the end,” Pugh said. “Journalism lost a truly good person today.”
L’Ecluse is survived by her brother, Brett L’Ecluse of Fairfield. No public services are planned, at the request of L’Ecluse. Remembrance may be sent in her name to the American Cancer Society or to the Humane Society of the United States.
Reach Glen Faison at 427-6925 or gfaison@dailyrepublic.net.
Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=95050
Posted by Glen Faison
on Oct 10 2011.
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My condolences to her family and friends. And to the Daily Republic where she managed so well in all the roles she took on. She could be tough but always fair. RIP Kathy.
I’m very sorry to hear that Kathy’s fight has ended. She was brave and she’ll be missed.
Very sorry to hear of Kathy’s passing. She was a class act!
When I went to work for the DR in 1989, I followed Kathy’s footsteps. She became a mentor and I credit her with my honed skills in investigative reporting. When others didn’t have faith in me, Kathy did. It seems like she would always be there – and her spirit will. I will miss knowing that she is at the paper, a fair and balanced voice who truly loved good old fashioned journalism.
After her mother died of cancer, Kathy spoke to me about her fears of getting the dreaded disease. Then my mother began dying of diabetes. Kathy comforted me. We talked about losing our mothers and Kathy gave me strength.
AFter I became a politician in Fairfield, Kathy treated me fairly. It was nice. We communicated and talked about old times.
I will miss knowing she is at the helm at the DR.
Rest in peace, friend.
Catherine Moy, Fairfield councilwoman
My deepest sympathy to Kathy’s family, friends and the Staff at the Daily Republic. We will never forget Kathy’s series on the babylift crash in Vietnam in 1975. She went there and wrote a very interesting series on what happened. The Daily Republic has lost an outstanding journalist. God bless you Kathy—I know you’ve gone to a better place.
I’m very sad.
You know, I’d actually only met Kathy once in person, but we talked on the phone and through email and on Facebook a lot over the years. She helped me so much by not just editing my stories and columns but giving me practical pointers that I have tried to incorporate (I still love to use exclamation points though which she disliked).
I respected her writing skills and editing abilities and one time in particular she rearranged something I wrote and added a part at the beginning and I absolutely loved it (which, as a writer who agonizes often over every word that an editor changes-is rare).
I went through my email inbox and read some of our email exchanges over the years and what jumped out at me was little things that she would send as a reply when I sent a column to her or a project the DR had me do.
She would say “Thanks for all you do” or “I appreciate you” and those simple words meant so much. We also had a Mutual Admiration Society thing going when it came to columns and I so appreciated it when she would send me a comment saying she liked this or that or thought this part was so funny. She is one of the few editors I ever got feedback from. She would also sent me anecdotes as well–funny stuff. It’s kinda weird that I have literally hundreds of emails from her or to her and yet we were casual acquaintances.
I loved how she faced her battle with cancer head on and didn’t spare some of the more grislier details. I liked Brad’s column on Sunday and how it showed how tough and determined she was.
May Kathy rest in peace and my prayers are with her brother and those who knew her better than me,
I did not know Kathy personally but I did have several conversations over e-mail and she sounded like a class act. She made me feel up front and personal with value and I still have her e-mail. My deepest condolences to her family, friends and love ones.
First I heard about her illness. I am so sorry to hear this. RIP Kathleen, you’ll be missed.
Because of a story Kathy wrote four years ago, I became reconnected with an old friend, Tammy Rosen, who also had cancer. Kathy was an incredible support during those days of fundraising so that Tammy and her family could go to Hawaii before she passed away a year later. I did things that I never thought I could do to help give Tammy and her family that dream and it was due to Kathy’s ability to tell Tammy’s story that the community rallied to help give Tammy her dream. Though I first met Kathy as a result of her story about Tammy, we stayed connected with emails and phone calls. I know she was tough, but she had a heart of compassion and I will so miss her and her stories about the backyard kitties that adopted her. My prayers go out to the staff at the Daily Republic and her brother and friends. She was a bright and shiny star and our world is a little less brighter now that she has left us.
So sorry to learn of her passing. Kathleen brought in several of the feral kitties in her yard to be fixed the feral cat spay/neuter clinic last year. She wrote the funniest article on the sport of catching the feral mom cat. Her article made me crack up laughing. Her dedication to helping the feral kitties in her yard was impressive, especially in light of her illness.
I wish more people were like you, Kathleen. Your compassion towards animals, your sense of humor, and your relentless spirit will be remembered always. You will be missed.
Courageous battle, I did not know Kathy personally, we chatted through email and phone. What I got from her writings is how much she had her pulse on the community around her. Amazing courage and strength she showed throughout her battle. As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society I will continue to work hard for her, for a cure.
RIP Kathy
Kathy:
You are already missed. Fair Winds and Following Seas my friend….
Kathy was a wonderful friend, co-worker, and fellow writer.
Sorry to hear of her passing; read her column with interest because my wife had cancer years ago and has never fully recover from the side effects of radiation theraphy and is in pain much of the day. She was a very courageous woman.
Kathy you will be remembered as a very bright and creative person. Rest in peace.
I will miss your wit and charm. A solid person, an insightful writer.
Romans 8:31
The community has lost a real treasure. Kathy, you showed us wit, wisdom and honesty and
displayed such courage and determination. May you now RIP.
The truth is that we butted heads — a lot. But she was an editor’s editor and a great newspaperwoman. RIP Kathy.