When I left work last night (at 4:10 a.m.) I went home and got into my unwinding routine and when I learned that New York reporter, Joyce Shelby had died, my heart sank. I met Joyce Shelby three times in my life. Each time she left me with words of wisdom or "food for thought" as she put it. The first time I met her she spoke at my college about how journalism affected the world and what our responsibilities, as future journalists, would be to our community, beats and newspaper; She spoke about ethics in journalism and how a casual conversation or meeting could turn into an award winning story if we listened to the little things. She was inspiring.
Miss Joyce never made me macaroni and cheese and I never got the chance to write a story with her, but she gave me words of wisdom to live and strive by and for that, I feel blessed. I hope to someday be half the journalist she is. May God bless and keep her. My deepest condolences to her family and colleagues.
Thank you, Miss Joyce.
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Longtime Daily News reporter Joyce Shelby, who wrote hard news, award-winning exposés and funny feature stories with a signature verve and sensitivity, has died.
Shelby, who worked in the Brooklyn bureau for most of her 22-year career at the Daily News, collapsed on Court St. in downtown Brooklyn as she headed home after work Thursday.
Passersby, including a doctor, rushed to her aid until an ambulance took her to Long Island College Hospital, where she died.
Shelby turned 62 on St. Patrick's Day.
"Joyce was a valued part of the Brooklyn bureau, where her journalism skills and wonderful character made her such a key part of the team," said News Deputy Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Martin Dunn.
"Joyce was truly dedicated to reflecting the community she loved in the pages of the Daily News - and was never shy in passing on that enthusiasm to her colleagues."
An authority on all things Brooklyn, from Weeksville to Coney Island, Shelby's death stunned her friends, colleagues and the people she covered.
"All of Brooklyn is deeply saddened by the passing of Joyce Shelby," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "Her smile and wit made anyone she interviewed feel comfortable and relaxed. Brooklyn and the world of journalism have lost one of our bright lights."
Daily News Boroughs Editor James Harney called Shelby "the heartbeat of the bureau, the one who not only remembered colleagues' birthdays, but would go out of her way to order cakes and buy and set up decorations."
Brooklyn Bureau Chief JoAnne Wasserman called Shelby "a hell of a reporter. She had an old-fashioned Rolodex on her desk with hard-to-get phone numbers for everybody, including the guy who runs the kosher soup kitchen in Borough Park.
"She was always willing to share those numbers and give guidance to those coming up."
One of those up-and-comers was education writer Carrie Melago. Dispatched to cover a Purim event, Melago recalls the statuesque Shelby leaning over her and whispering, "You know from Purim, right?"
Investigative reporter Heidi Evans, who collaborated with Shelby on an award-winning exposé of shady practices at a Brooklyn nursing home, said the series was launched after Shelby took the time to listen to a man who walked into the Brooklyn office off the street.
"That conversation started the series. We would go on to report together for several months, including a freezing stakeout and door-knocking adventure in a New Jersey neighborhood right out of 'The Sopranos,'" Evans said. "'I'm getting too old for this,' Joyce said as we got out the car. But she never did." Alexander Rapaport, of the Masbia Soup Kitchen, worked with Shelby on a story that will appear in Tuesday's paper.
"She had a strong interest in bringing the plight of the underdog to the forefront," Rapaport said. "She knew everything about every culture in Brooklyn."
Shelby, who was often hobbled by fussy knees, once bought ingredients and took the train from her Washington Heights home in Manhattan to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, so she could make macaroni and cheese for reporter and new mother Elizabeth Hays.
"Joyce effortlessly whipped up a triple batch of macaroni and cheese, then stayed while it baked and cooled and even cut it into individual portions," Hays said. "I was so sad when that macaroni and cheese ran out."
Judge Priscilla Hall, additional justice of the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court, has known Shelby since they entered Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism school in 1968.
"She was a loving, generous person, always optimistic in her outlook, no matter how difficult things were," Hall said.
Shelby was born in Augusta, Ga., daughter of Prudence Young and the late Daniel Young Sr. She earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Spelman College and a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
Her first newspaper job was at the Augusta Herald, said daughter Gail Ann-Marie Shelby. Shelby was editor of Georgetown Today, Georgetown University's alumni magazine, from April 1974 to February 1975.
She was an adjunct professor at Columbia University from 1975 to 1981, and an assistant professor from 1981 to 1987, when she joined the Daily News.
"She loved working at the Daily News," Gail Shelby said. "She stayed in touch with a lot of people she did stories on. She was dedicated and family oriented."
Deeply religious, Shelby was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan. Survivors besides her daughter include her mother, Prudence Young; son, Claybrone Shelby 3rd, six cousins and five great nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
Longtime Daily News reporter Joyce Shelby, who wrote hard news, award-winning exposés and funny feature stories with a signature verve and sensitivity, has died.
Shelby, who worked in the Brooklyn bureau for most of her 22-year career at the Daily News, collapsed on Court St. in downtown Brooklyn as she headed home after work Thursday.
Passersby, including a doctor, rushed to her aid until an ambulance took her to Long Island College Hospital, where she died.
Shelby turned 62 on St. Patrick's Day.
"Joyce was a valued part of the Brooklyn bureau, where her journalism skills and wonderful character made her such a key part of the team," said News Deputy Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Martin Dunn.
"Joyce was truly dedicated to reflecting the community she loved in the pages of the Daily News - and was never shy in passing on that enthusiasm to her colleagues."
An authority on all things Brooklyn, from Weeksville to Coney Island, Shelby's death stunned her friends, colleagues and the people she covered.
"All of Brooklyn is deeply saddened by the passing of Joyce Shelby," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "Her smile and wit made anyone she interviewed feel comfortable and relaxed. Brooklyn and the world of journalism have lost one of our bright lights."
Daily News Boroughs Editor James Harney called Shelby "the heartbeat of the bureau, the one who not only remembered colleagues' birthdays, but would go out of her way to order cakes and buy and set up decorations."
Brooklyn Bureau Chief JoAnne Wasserman called Shelby "a hell of a reporter. She had an old-fashioned Rolodex on her desk with hard-to-get phone numbers for everybody, including the guy who runs the kosher soup kitchen in Borough Park.
"She was always willing to share those numbers and give guidance to those coming up."
One of those up-and-comers was education writer Carrie Melago. Dispatched to cover a Purim event, Melago recalls the statuesque Shelby leaning over her and whispering, "You know from Purim, right?"
Investigative reporter Heidi Evans, who collaborated with Shelby on an award-winning exposé of shady practices at a Brooklyn nursing home, said the series was launched after Shelby took the time to listen to a man who walked into the Brooklyn office off the street.
"That conversation started the series. We would go on to report together for several months, including a freezing stakeout and door-knocking adventure in a New Jersey neighborhood right out of 'The Sopranos,'" Evans said. "'I'm getting too old for this,' Joyce said as we got out the car. But she never did." Alexander Rapaport, of the Masbia Soup Kitchen, worked with Shelby on a story that will appear in Tuesday's paper.
"She had a strong interest in bringing the plight of the underdog to the forefront," Rapaport said. "She knew everything about every culture in Brooklyn."
Shelby, who was often hobbled by fussy knees, once bought ingredients and took the train from her Washington Heights home in Manhattan to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, so she could make macaroni and cheese for reporter and new mother Elizabeth Hays.
"Joyce effortlessly whipped up a triple batch of macaroni and cheese, then stayed while it baked and cooled and even cut it into individual portions," Hays said. "I was so sad when that macaroni and cheese ran out."
Judge Priscilla Hall, additional justice of the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court, has known Shelby since they entered Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism school in 1968.
"She was a loving, generous person, always optimistic in her outlook, no matter how difficult things were," Hall said.
Shelby was born in Augusta, Ga., daughter of Prudence Young and the late Daniel Young Sr. She earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Spelman College and a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
Her first newspaper job was at the Augusta Herald, said daughter Gail Ann-Marie Shelby. Shelby was editor of Georgetown Today, Georgetown University's alumni magazine, from April 1974 to February 1975.
She was an adjunct professor at Columbia University from 1975 to 1981, and an assistant professor from 1981 to 1987, when she joined the Daily News.
"She loved working at the Daily News," Gail Shelby said. "She stayed in touch with a lot of people she did stories on. She was dedicated and family oriented."
Deeply religious, Shelby was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan. Survivors besides her daughter include her mother, Prudence Young; son, Claybrone Shelby 3rd, six cousins and five great nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
i loved Joyce - i guess is still do. macaroni and cheese may have been appropriate for the event described - but Joyce could cook up the most interesting sounding recipes. we always said we would exchange recipes but never did. i always thought there would be a tomorrow. Joyce was the pillar of her family and would host a crowd on Thanksgiving - doing all the traditional cooking. i did a number or articles with her. she was great. i learned a lot from her about journalism. i find it interesting that the article talks about her breaking a story about wrongdoing. i absolutely believe it. she cared so much about people. and she was deeply religious. but i remember her always wanting to write positive about people and making sure she got the facts correctly. our 10 year friendship was more than just articles. we were always in touch about one thing or another. she once interviewed a Holocaust survivor and called me about giving the woman a Mezuzah and she wanted to do it right. it was very thoughtful. Joyce was always doing things right... Joyce, where ever you are, with the highest angels, i just want you to know, i still love you!
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