It’s been a tough 12 months. While we all were hoping 2021 would be a better, more “normal” year, the pandemic continues, although there finally is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

During the pandemic, most of us have lost friends, colleagues or loved ones to the virus.

I certainly am no different, as several of my newspaper brethren have succumbed to COVID-19. People who I considered mentors, top-notch journalists and – most importantly – friends. The toll the virus has taken on us all is absolutely devastating. We only can hope that the end is – indeed – in sight.

The coronavirus aside, as I grow older, the unavoidable life lesson of loss becomes more clear.

Last week, I received a phone call from a colleague that yet another one of our close-knit circle passed away, far too soon.

Former Telegraph City Editor Casey Junkins – who left the paper for an editor’s position at the Capital Journal in Pierre, South Dakota, last year, passed away from a stroke, his family said. Casey was just 42 years old.

For almost two years, Casey and I spent many late nights in the newsroom putting together the next day’s edition. We were a good team, both having a passion for the newspaper business and local journalism.

We also spent hours chatting about local and national news, especially politics. He absolutely loved covering New Hampshire presidential primary events and campaign stops. His knowledge of politics truly was amazing, and his ability to ask – sometimes repeatedly – the tough questions was a quality few newspapermen have these days.

His drive and determination at getting a scoop and to the bottom of a story was something I admired tremendously about Casey.

Perhaps the thing I will remember most about him, though, will be his laugh, which would fill the sometimes-empty newsroom after everyone had gone home for the night.

If a wire story or a social media post caught his attention, he’d sometimes get tickled and burst out into a folksy chuckle that could be heard for miles. He’d then, typically, saunter into my office and we’d both share a giggle and strike up a conversation.

Since Casey left The Telegraph, I certainly have missed him and our late-night talks about everything from work to our formative years in life and in the business. Casey truly was a great friend, a one-of-a-kind and someone who was a role model for those in journalism and in life. Despite his difficult childhood – he lost both his parents to cancer when he was very young – he carried himself well, was kind, never forgot where he came from and was someone who I am proud to call a friend.

Tragic losses like these certainly make me realize how short life really is and how much we all should not only cherish the time we have, but also to cherish the people around us. Loss is, indeed, a part of life, especially as we age, but the memories we have of those we lost are worth their eight in gold. So, please take pause today to make a simple phone call or two or have a socially distanced visit with a friend or loved one. Those memories we make now will last us a lifetime.

Publisher and Editor Matthew Burdette may be reached at 603-594-1240 or mburdette@nashuatelegraph.com. Follow him on Twitter @Telegraph_mattb.

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