Ruschell Boone (née West; 1975 – 3 September 2023) was a Jamaican-born American reporter and journalist based in New York City. She worked for NY1 cable television news from 2002 until her death in 2023.[1]
Ruschell Boone | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ruschell West 1975 |
| Died | (aged 48) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Baruch College |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse |
Todd Boone (m. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | ruschellboone |
Early life and education edit
Ruschell West was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She immigrated to the Bronx in 1986 when she was 11,[2] where she recalled being bullied for her Jamaican accent.[3] She was one of five children in a blended family with her mother Faithlyn (Swaby) and stepfather Duke Scott.[4]
Boone earned a degree in accounting from City University of New York (CUNY) Baruch College.[5] Although she picked accounting to ensure a good living, she discovered her passion for journalism in her senior year when she took over a college radio segment for a missing guest. Boone's academic counselor tried to dissuade her from a career change, saying that it was too late for her to change paths and that she did not "fit the mold".[3]
Career edit
Working in cable television news since 1998, Boone was a business news associate for CNBC and then an associate producer and assignment editor for CNN.[2][5] She joined NY1 in 2002.[5]
As a reporter for NY1, she covered breaking stories such as the 2016 pressure-cooker bombing in Manhattan and the 2016 presidential election.[5] She became a general assignment reporter for NY1's Live at Ten newscast in 2018.[6] In 2019, Boone was nominated for three New York Emmy Awards for news reporting and work on NY1's talk shows,[7] and in 2020 she was nominated again as a live reporter.[8] She moved to the anchor desk in 2021.[9]
Personal life and death edit
On 24 September 2005, Ruschell West married Todd Boone, a production technician at NY1. They went on to have two sons.[10][11] In 2022, she began a medical leave from NY1 for treatment of pancreatic cancer.[12] She later returned to the NY1 anchor desk, but succumbed to medical complications on 3 September 2023, at the age of 48.[1] Speakers at her memorial service included New York elected officials Letitia James, Eric Adams, Adrienne Adams, and Donovan Richards.[9]
Awards edit
- New York Press Club Award for Best Feature Reporting – 2013[5]
- New York Association of Black Journalists award for Best Spot News Reporting – 2014[5]
- City & State list of Queens Most Influential Leaders – 2016,[13] 2019,[14] 2020[15]
- Queens District Attorney's William Tucker Garvin Public Service Award – 2019[5]
References edit
- ^ a b "Ruschell Boone, 1975-2023: Beloved, award-winning NY1 anchor". Spectrum News. NY1. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ a b Jackson, Kevin (5 August 2018). "Jamaican-born Ruschell Boone wins Jerk Festival celebrity cook-off". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ a b McPherson, Njeri (31 October 2019). "Ruschell Boone: making her mark on journalism". Amsterdam News. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Obituary: Faithlyn J. Scott". T. Carrillo Funeral Service. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Sperling, Jonathan (25 February 2019). "DA Brown Presents Garvin Public Service Award to NY1 Reporter Ruschell Boone". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Arthur Ashe Institute For Urban Health Announces 2019 Honorees For 25th Annual Black Tie & Sneakers Sports Ball". Broadway World. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "The 2019 New York Emmy Award Nominees" (PDF) (Press release). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "The 2020 New York Emmy Award Nominees" (PDF) (Press release). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ a b "NY1's Ruschell Boone celebrated at memorial service". Spectrum News. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Ruschell West and Todd Boone". The New York Times. 25 September 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Ruschell Boone – Anchor, 'News All Day'". Spectrum News. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "NY1's Ruschell Boone undergoing treatment for cancer". Spectrum News. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Queens Borough 50". City & State. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "The 2019 Queens Power 100". City & State. 4 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019.
- ^ "Queens Power 50". City & State. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
External links edit
- RuschellBoone.com – official website