WFXT BOSTON 25 NEWS anchor/reporter Heather Hegedus announced last week that she will be leaving the news station later this month. The Lynnfield native has worked for Boston 25 News for the past 11 years.
By DAN TOMASELLO
DEDHAM — It’s the end of an era.
WFXT Boston 25 News anchor/reporter Heather Hegedus announced last week that she will be leaving the news station later this month. The Lynnfield native has worked at Boston 25 News for the past 11 years.
“After 23 years as a journalist and 11 years as an anchor/reporter here in Boston, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave news,” Hegedus wrote on her Facebook page. “Getting to anchor for over a decade where I was born and raised has been a ‘pinch me’ experience for a little girl from the small town of Lynnfield who used to love staying up late on election night to watch the news coverage.”
In addition to working as an anchor and reporter for Boston 25 News, Hegedus has also worked for WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut; WSYR-TV in Syracuse, New York; WIVT in Binghamton, New York; NY1 News in New York City; and NBC Universal in Washington, D.C.
“I’ve worked weekends for the majority of my time, worked every single shift (including every shift at Boston 25), and every holiday,” Hegedus wrote. “Sometimes it was lonely. But I also met my amazing husband on the job and had two babies. I’ve had amazing experiences and a front row seat to history. I’ve also been a witness to gut wrenching moments: Working in D.C., then New York City, during and after 9/11, and reporting minutes after the blasts at the Boston Marathon. I’ve had the honor of telling the inspiring stories of marathon survivors. I’ve also had the impossible task of sitting down with people at their lowest moments.”
Hegedus also stated that she has thoroughly enjoying shining a “spotlight the accomplishments of special needs children and their families.”
“As someone who faces this head-on each and every day in my own home, it was really meaningful to me,” Hegedus wrote.
Hegedus also recalled that she has “covered every development of the pandemic” and continued reporting and anchoring while she was pregnant. She also served as her “son’s therapist when his school and therapies shut down.”
While Hegedus noted that, “The decision to leave the only job I’ve ever had weighed very heavily” on her, she was “given another opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up.”
“I will be able to share more on my new career path at a later date,” Hegedus wrote. “So don’t worry, you won’t get rid of me that easily. I’ll still be with you every morning on Boston 25 until Feb. 24. After that, you’ll still be able to follow me on a webcast I’ll be anchoring that I’ll able to tell you about soon, so this is not goodbye!”
Hegedus thanked Boston 25’s viewers for “welcoming me into your homes, for your loyalty, and for your emails and tweets.”
“I enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you,” she wrote. “That was one of the very best parts of this job. To the people who entrusted me to tell their stories and the public information officers, police and other officials, thank you for your collaboration and trust.”
Hegedus also thanked the autism community for the support they have provided her and her family.
“I will continue to keep advocating for our kids and telling your stories in hopes of making the world a more inclusive, accommodating and understanding place for our families,” Hegedus wrote.
Hegedus thanked her Boston 25 colleagues for their support as well.
“You are consummate professionals at the top of your game, and you made the 2 a.m. alarm clock so much more bearable,” Hegedus wrote. “I love you guys. You’re my second family. Thanks for 11 great years Boston! Stay tuned!”
