JULIE KAY HAS DIED .....

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

IT'S A SAD, SAD DAY AT THE DAILY BUSINESS REVIEW AS LONG TIME INTREPID REPORTER FOR THE COURTS, JULIE KAY, HAS DIED .....

Julie was the best.  And she loved what she did for a living.  Daily Business Review writer Monika Gonzalez Mesa wrote a fantastic obit that was placed online tonight on the Miami Herald web page and can be read here.

I have written a total of 152 Posts in the past ten and one half years and I always turned to Julie first.  We emailed each other many, many times over these past ten years.  Most of the time, it was Julie with the scoop.  Every once in a while I was able to get the story first and I always shared it with her before I posted it here.  We frequently shared and traded information on upcoming stories.  She was always a pleasure to deal with and she was always a pure professional.

And if you read the Herald article, you will learn that she has been battling ovarian cancer for more than a decade - and told virtually nobody about it.  I was shocked when I read the obit - I had no idea - like most of the journalism community.

From the story:

"She never complained about her illness and despised pity," said Sallie James, Kay’s friend for more than 30 years. "She was a warrior with the kind of courage that is seldom seen anywhere. Julie loved being a reporter more than anything and always focused her energy on her work instead of her health."  "For Kay, journalism was a kind of medicine for the soul. She reveled in finding "juicy" story ideas as business of law reporter at the Daily Business Review for more than six years. Her life revolved around reporting, her friends, and her nieces and nephews."

"Attorneys trusted her and called her with tips. Sources appreciated her integrity and belief that lawyers are fundamental to achieving and preserving justice, said Peter Quinter, a partner at GrayRobinson"

"She was always full of ideas and wanted to do her best work," said Joan Chrissos, Miami Herald night news content and health editor who worked with Kay by phone and email for about two years. "I knew I could count on her every month. I knew I would get a story that would be well-reported, well-researched and well-written. She always wanted to make sure she did it well and on deadline, and always did. She was a real pro."

In May, she emailed me stating: "Yes, captain, I saw., good job! And did you see my juicy post on Miami lawyer Mason Pertnoy running for Judge Imperato’s seat in Broward and then, after raising $17,000, having to return it all after finding that Gov. Scott planned to appoint someone."

Now I understand why, when I emailed her on July 13th, I got a forwarding message telling me to contact another reporter at the DBR.

Services are planned at 2 p.m. Monday at Levitt Weinstein Beth David Memorial Gardens, 3201 N. 72nd Ave., in Hollywood.

Julie Kay was 54.

Rest in peace Julie.  You were one of the best and you will be missed by all.

CAPTAIN OUT .....
Captain4Justice@gmail.com