Jason Mealey was a beloved news producer and assignment desk editor. He died April 10, 2024 from a heart attack, according to his wife, Michelle.

He was 48 years old.

Jason Mealey was a beloved news producer and assignment desk editor. He died April 10, 2024 from a heart attack, according to his wife, Michelle.

He was 48 years old.

WJXT Remembers Jason Mealey

Michelle and Jason were married for 23 years. He had a passion for his work, planning and putting together newscasts, and for the responsibility of sending news crews to story scenes throughout our viewing area.

Jason was also instrumental in the creation and launch of our News4JAX Help Center. Many of the articles answering your Frequently Asked Questions were written by Jason.

Jason won an Emmy award for his coverage of the shooting at a video gaming tournament at the Jacksonville Landing in 2018.

Thursday, Jason would have celebrated his 13th year with Channel 4. Recently, he celebrated 25 years in the news industry.

Outside of work, Jason LOVED his Baltimore sports teams -- the Orioles and Ravens.

But Michelle said he also loved their adopted city of Jacksonville -- that was until it was time for the Jaguars to play the Ravens!

Jason recently reflected upon his childhood and memories of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed when it was hit by a cargo ship in March.

He felt compelled to write a special web story called “A Bridge to Jacksonville from Baltimore”

It’s a memory that everyone in the newsroom will cherish. Jason will be missed deeply.

Gary’s story began in California on September 30, 1969. Based on what we know now about his arrival time at meetings later in life, we can safely assume he was probably late for his grand entrance. We will never know for sure because Gary never knew his biological parents.  So, Tom and Marlene Detman, who saw the potential in this special little boy, invited him into their family. Gary eventually became the oldest of the three Detman children. 

Gary went to Elementary School in Colorado and Middle School in Portland, Oregon.  Gary would be the first to tell you he wasn’t an “A” student.  As a matter of fact, he would be the first to admit he was a little trouble maker.  His bad behavior actually served as a major turning point in his life when his parents decided to send him to military school.  Gary said this was his parent’s best decision because that experience changed his mindset, helping him become the man we all knew. 

Military school prepared Gary for higher education.  Gary graduated from Lewis and Clark College and then was off to U.C.L.A.   He toyed with the idea of law school but changed his career path after watching the video of the police beating of Rodney King and the riots that followed.  He realized he wanted to tell people’s stories.  He especially liked standing up for the little guy and giving a voice to the voiceless.  

With a new vision, Gary began a new chapter in his life. He was able to accomplish one of his dreams of becoming a proud Buffalo of the University of Colorado.  He graduated with a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism.

Gary has won awards for many documentaries during his career. Most recently, he is credited with telling the story of a homeless man named Benny Geronimo in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. Benny was no ordinary homeless man; he spoke seven languages and had many family members who could support him. Benny said he felt comfortable living on the streets. He had many friends who dubbed him the Mayor of J Street. Benny’s story was so touching it is now a documentary airing on PBS. Gary was interviewed for the story, and now producers hope to turn Benny’s story into a major motion picture.  Gary is still giving a voice to the voiceless.

Gary lived the nomad life of a newsman.  He began his professional journalism career in Colorado.  In 1998, he moved his family across the country to become a producer with the Gannet affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida.  He was promoted twice, first to the Cleveland, Ohio station as a producer before being promoted back to Jacksonville to become the first Digital Executive producer in station history.  Gary worked for more than a decade in Jacksonville at multiple stations before moving south and joining the CBS12 Team.

Gary had one biological son.  Being Andre’s father was the thing Gary was most proud of in life.  Gary lit up when talking about André and the little man he was raising. 

As Gary entered the final chapter of his story, he met a woman who changed his life, Sandy Collier. Sandy and Gary shared a love that’s far and few in between. Gary’s friends recognized his happiness, and Gary talked about his love for Sandy with anyone who would listen. Sandy showered Gary with the love and passion many people search their entire lives for and never experience it.

Gary took on the father figure role to Sandy’s younger kids, Raffie and Gabby. Gary showed extraordinary patience with Raffie, who is living with Autism. Raffie would ask Gary the same question 100 times, and he would patiently answer them all. His love for Raffie was evident to all. Gabby, a typical teenage girl, was often at a loss for words to express her love for Gary. Over the years, she grew to love and admire him and the life lessons he shared with her that will remain with her forever. Gary won over Sandy’s four adult children, too, proving the kind of man he was.

Gary’s father, Tom, preceded him in death. Gary will be missed by his mother, Marlene; his son André his brother Brian; his sister Michelle; his aunt and uncle, Doug & Lynda Detman; his niece and nephews, Cy, Conroy, Emily, and Ellis; his love Sandy; the entire Collier clan, and by numerous colleagues and friends. 

Gary may have been late coming into the world, but he definitely left it too soon.  We will all miss you, Gary!

Thanks to Mike McCormick, Gary’s dear friend, for his help with this reflection on Gary’s life.

Gary will forever be fondly remembered, as WPEC CBS12 paid lasting tribute, naming a section of their newsroom as the Gary J. Detman Digital Content Center.

There was nothing more Dylan Lyons loved in life than his family and his career.

At age 24, it was all tragically taken in a violent attack on the job.

On February 22, 2023, Spectrum News 13 MMJ Dylan Lyons and Photojournalist Jesse Walden were immediately ambushed by a gunman as they arrived at a scene in a neighborhood in Orlando’s Pine Hills community.

Dylan was one of three people murdered that day, in a series of random, but connected shootings, including 9 year old T’Yonna Major, and Natacha Augustin, 38.

Spectrum News 13 Remembers Dylan Lyons

Dylan is remembered for being a motivated and talented professional.

”Dylan was truly the most dedicated professional, and happiest spirit,” Spectrum News 13 Anchor Greg Angel said. “Always upbeat, truly. Eager to learn, eager to connect and build relationships.”

Dylan joined Spectrum News 13 in July 2022. Before joining Spectrum News 13, he worked for WCJB TV20 in Gainesville.

“He had a big personality and was never afraid to ask the tough questions,” WCJB TV20 News Director Jon Levy said in a statement. “Dylan was also deeply involved in TV20′s charitable and community outreach efforts during his time in North Central Florida. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the Spectrum News 13 team.”

A graduate of University of Central Florida, Dylan interned in a number of Orlando newsrooms, including WKMG-TV, WFTV-TV, and WMFE-FM.

“Dylan wanted so badly to be a broadcast journalist,” WKMG Reporter Erik Sandoval shared in an online post. “He was excited for his future, and we were excited for him. When I saw him last year at an awards ceremony (where he won), I gave him a huge hug. Dylan was talented. Dylan was electric. Dylan had a future.”

Dylan was recognized shortly after his death for having been previously named the 2022 Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists’ MMJ of the Year for Large Market Television. He was also recognized for his weather reporting the same year.

Dylan previously won multiple awards for his political, investigative, and general reporting.

Julie Glenn joined WGCU in 2016 and worked in many different roles - reporter, program host and podcast creator.

The cause of death was health complications stemming from a progression of glioblastoma, according to WGCU.

In 2017 she agreed to step up as interim news director to lead the station’s award-winning coverage of Hurricane Irma.

WGCU Public Media Remembers Julie Glenn

She was promoted into the job permanently in 2018. She joined the board of the Public Media Journalists Association that same year and served the full two year term.

Former GM Rick Johnson said of Glenn in fall 2017:

“It was Julie’s leadership, tenacity and good humor under the most trying circumstances that shaped that coverage while nurturing the talents and sustaining the spirits of her team who worked around the clock to keep listeners informed and safe,” Johnson wrote. “The world — but more specifically Southwest Florida — is a poorer place without Julie in it. I am deeply saddened by her passing. She will be sorely missed by all who worked with and knew her.”

“Beyond Julie’s journalistic acumen and passion for news, she was a nurturing co-worker who always went above and beyond to celebrate someone’s birthday or recent accomplishment,” said Amy Shumaker, associate GM for content, in an obituary published on WGCU’s website. “If you were in need, Julie was there. We will miss her terribly.”

“If you’re reading this, then I finally lost my battle with ALS. I like to have the last word, so here are my final thoughts…”

Sharon Siegel-Cohen, an award-winning Executive Producer, spent 33 years crafting stories in her hometown of Jacksonville.

A beloved mentor to colleagues at WJXT-TV, and her community.

Sharon passed away April 9, 2020 from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. She was 62.

After years of working in newsrooms in Tampa, Atlanta, and Jacksonville, it was Sharon’s diagnosis that became her most important assignment. After her diagnosis in July 2018, Sharon became an advocate to raise awareness about the disease and the need for a cure. She received the Courage Award from Augie’s Quest, a nonprofit dedicated to helping find a treatment and cure for ALS.

Sharon wrote her own obituary, where she wrote “…Despite this cruel disease, I often felt like the luckiest woman on Earth.”

Sharon’s dedication and lasting impact will always be remembered.