Obit

Keith Bellows, 63

FORMER NATIONAL Geographic Traveler editor-in-chief and author Keith Bellows died Saturday, August 29, after an illness. He was 63.

Bellows has been with the magazine for 17 years until he stepped down October last year. During his leadership of the magazine, the Traveler won international awards, including the 2012 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism gold award for the magazine’s website. He was also named vice president of the National Geographic Society in 2000. (“Keith Bellows, Award-Winning Editor of National Geographic Traveler, Dies,” National Geographic.com, August 30, 2015)

After Bellows left the magazine, he became  director of consumer engagement of the Family Travel Association (FTA), a nonprofit organization that advocates travel as an essential part of child education.

But before being with the Traveler, Bellows also developed internet content as early as 1994. He also worked for Rupert Murdoch’s Delphi Web service; launched BabyCenter.com as its creative director; was the executive producer of Excite.com; and was a founding partner of WestWorld Media which developed heavy metal band Metallica’s website, as well as the college-based Campus Voice.com.

He was also editor of Smart Health/Smart Parenting Division of New York-based Meigher Communications; the founder of the Media Development Group Inc. which created print properties for Disney, Utne Reader, Vegetarian Times, among others. He was president of Whittle Communications and editor of its flagship Special Reports magazine, as well as the executive producer of its companion, the “Special Reports TV with Joan Lunden.”

Colleagues remember Bellows for his passion, enthusiasm, and ability to inspire others.

“Bellows was a giant in the world of travel journalism. In an industry marked by larger-than-life editors, he was as big as they came,” said Norie Quintos, the Traveler’s executive editor. “To our staff, he was a champion of excellence as well as a fierce believer in the power of travel to change the world.”

“I would never have written anything if it had not been for Keith. He was the first to give me a chance. He was unwavering in his commitment to me when there was no reason for him to be,” said Andre McCarthy, contributing editor to the Traveler. “He was a mentor, a cheerleader, an exacting and demanding boss. He had a grand vision and loathed the mundane. I hated sailing with him. Most importantly, he was my dear friend.” (“Remembering Keith Bellows,” National Geographic.com, August 31, 2015)

A tribute to Bellows posted at the FTA website, on the other hand, remember him for his love for travel.

“In everything he did, Keith Bellows embodied the spirit of all that’s good about travel, something in which we also steadfastly believe.” (“Remembering Keith Bellows, Our Inspiration and Friend,” FamilyTravel.org, August 31, 2015)

Bellows also authored several travel books. His most recent work was a book titled “100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life: From Your Backyard to the Ends of the Earth,” which was published in 2013.

Bellows is survived by his former wife Melina, chief education officer of the National Geographic Society, and their children, Adam, Chase, and Mackenzie.

Bill Carey, 61

Senior broadcast journalist Bill Carey died Friday, August 7, after a nearly two-year fight with lung cancer. He was 61.

Carey learned he had lung cancer in October 2013. Aggressive treatment caused the disease to disappear temporarily, enabling him to continue his work as senior reporter at the Time Warner Cable News. Unfortunately, the ailment returned. (“Veteran Syracuse TV journalist Bill Carey dies; was battling cancer,” Syracuse.com, August 7, 2015)

Carey first landed his radio job at WMBO in 1971, his hometown’s radio station in Auburn, New York. He was a teenager, then, and had no formal journalism training. And in 1976, he was later part of another radio station, 62-WHEN, in Syracuse.

He first moved to television in the 1980s, becoming news director at WTVH-5, but later returned to radio for a brief time and took charge of news at WSYR. Carey would later work for Channel 5, Channel 9, and then in Time Warner Cable News in 2003, where he stayed until his death. (“Senior Reporter Bill Carey, Reported on CNY’s Biggest Stories of Past 44 Years, Dies at 61,” TWCNews.com, August 8, 2015)

In his long career of 44 years, Carey won awards for his work over the years, which include three Emmys and the Edward R. Murrow Award. He was also on the Syracuse Press Club Wall of Distinction. (“TV journalist Bill Carey, in treatment at Sloan Kettering, has message for ‘The CNY’,” Syracuse.com, August 6, 2015)

Carey is survived by his wife Mary Ellen, three grown children, and six grandchildren.