By Globe Staff

This article is dedicated to the memory of our colleague and friend, Chauncey Bailey, who was tragically murdered one year ago on Aug. 2. The Globe Newspapers family has come together to share some of our fondest memories of him.
    Vernon Whitmore, publisher: “Reflecting on the death of Chauncey Bailey still brings up my initial feeling of disbelief. I would expect incidents like this to happen in some foreign country where journalists are routinely kidnapped or murdered in order to suppress news leaks about secrets of state or revolutionary activities. It still sticks in my craw that it happened here in the Bay Area, and that the journalist was someone I had known and worked with for years.
    “Chauncey was my first professional editorial hire when I started the Globe. He was fresh from the Tribune and came to the Globe as our senior journalist. He helped to shape our editorial content and worked like crazy to bring us good, solid community news. I miss Chauncey, and the Globe family wants to make it known that not having him present at news conferences, events and everywhere still makes us miss him all the more.”
   Eleanor Boswell-Raine, associate publisher and managing editor: “I was Chauncey’s managing editor for over two years when the Globe was new on the scene and had a scant editorial staff. It was a great experience, because he lent his journalistic style to a broad swath of topics, including community activities, political quagmires, health disparities, education and entertainment.
   “Chauncey could write about any topic. He created desk bylines for our paper so that his name didn’t repeat too many times. He was always on the news scene and thoroughly engaged, ready with a “cut to the chase” question. He was always on time with the news and true to his story commitments. He helped to shape the journalistic style of the Globe.
   “On a personal note, I remember his hug at my father’s funeral last May, and the simple message he left on my voicemail when my mother passed in June: ‘Ellie, we love you.’
    “Thank you, Chauncey. You touched many lives and will be remembered for it.”
    Eddrick Osborne, “Globe Newshour” radio host: “I only knew him for a short time, but I quickly discovered that he loved Oakland and took the craft of journalism very seriously. I had the chance to interview him for the show, and marveled at his insights and prescient knowledge of people, especially politicians. He was a remarkable journalist.”
    Felicia Purcell-McDaniel, sports editor: “Chauncey was a big brother figure to me. He scolded me and offered me advice. Whenever I saw him at staff meetings I couldn’t wait to see him, because I knew that he would be dressed nicely and ask all of the intelligent questions. Chauncey always cared about what others were doing; he wasn’t just focused on himself. The last time I saw him, he gave me a big, tight hug. I will forever remember that moment.”
    Sandra Varner, entertainment contributor: “How do you capture nearly 20 years of a friendship? You don’t. You remember many things about a person, and most of all, you remember how they lived. Chauncey lived for information. He absorbed it and shared it with everyone who came in contact with him. Not a time went by when we spoke that he didn’t ask me if I had heard … whatever. You always had to be on your toes with him, because if he felt you didn’t know something you should have, you wished you would have.”
    Clifford L. Williams, journalist: “Chauncey and I first met and became fellow journalists and friends when we were both writing for the Oakland Post during the time when it was under the direction of Tom Berkley.
    “Chauncey was relentless in his pursuit to covering the news, especially if it had anything to do with black people, the black community and anything related to blacks. Black issues were important to him. If there was a black activity or event that the mainstream media didn’t bother to cover, Chauncey was there to ensure that at least the ethnic media would know about it.
    “Several weeks after his death, people would come up to me and ask if I was going to replace Chauncey. My only answer was that you could not replace Chauncey. There are people who come into your life that set the standard — high standards. Chauncey was one of them. He was the consummate newsman who had a drive and commitment to covering the news.
    “Chauncey cannot be replaced, but his legacy of pursuing and reporting news stories can live on if we, as his fellow journalists, adopt the energy, the fervor, the love and the passion that Chauncey had.”
    Z’ma Wyatt, photographer: “Lost in time is what it feels like without Chauncey. I miss his smile and the conversations we shared on our way to an event. I thank Chauncey all the time while I’m at work, because if it had not been for Chauncey seeing something in me as a photojournalist, I would not be doing what I love and have my passion for what I do. He is so missed, daily. One day I will hold my Pulitzer Prize for photojournalism high for him to shine on ….”

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