Remembering Gwen Ifill, Pioneering Journalist

Pioneering journalist Gwen Ifill died of endometrial cancer yesterday. She was just 61. You likely know her from her stellar work as the host of PBS's "Washington Week" in Review, and co-host of the "Newshour."

But Ifill also had a long career in print journalism. She has more than 80 front page bylines in The Washington Post, and spent time at the Baltimore Evening Sun and the New York Times. But Ifill got her start in Boston --her first job after graduating from Simmons College was in the late 1970s at what was then called the Boston Herald American.

In an industry still struggling with a woeful lack of women of color, Ifill's intelligence, authority, toughness and grace will be sorely missed.

Helen Drinan, president of Simmons College, which tweets @SimmonsCollege.

Sara Just, executive producer of PBS "NewsHour." She tweets @sarajust.