RICHMOND, Va. -- June 3rd was a somber day at CBS 6. It marked five years since we lost our guiding light, our longtime anchor and dear friend, Stephanie Rochon.
Stephanie died in 2015, just one month after turning 50. In a cruel twist of fate, we lost her to cancer, the same disease she spent years raising money and awareness about.
In addition to being a respected news anchor, she was the heart and soul of Buddy Check 6, an award-winning franchise that shines a light on the people dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer (Stephanie died from a different form of the disease).
For Steph, it wasn't a cause... it was a crusade. When she wasn't hard at work here at the station, Steph would be out in the community, teaming with organizations like Reach Out for Life, and her beloved Sisters Network. On any given weekend, it wouldn’t be unusual to see her going door to door, decked out in pink, telling women about the importance of things like mammograms, self-exams, and regular check-ups.
And while Steph meant the world to all of us here at CBS 6, she meant even more to her husband, Jeff, and their two sons, Miles and Pierce. All three are doing great. Come the fall, Miles will be a senior in high school, and Pierce a freshman.
While Stephanie hasn't physically been in our building on West Broad Street for five years, her spirit remains. Whenever we walk from the newsroom to the studio, we pass a bronze plaque that was placed in her honor.
It reminds all of us about the passion, pride, and professionalism that is necessary to do our jobs... especially during times like these.
Buddy Check 6 lives on, thanks to CBS 6 This Morning anchor, and Stephanie’s good friend, Reba Hollingsworth. New reports air on the sixth of each month during our 5:00 p.m. newscast.
