Local

Sacramento Bee reporter recognized for profile of teacher who documented last days online

By Cathy Locke

clocke@sacbee.com

October 09, 2014 05:57 PM

Tony Martin-Vegue, left, his wife Christina Kerby holding a photo of her father Wilson Kerby, Wilson's wife Bonnie Banks, and Wilson's son Logan Kerby at the home of Bonnie Banks in Sacramento on Friday, January 3, 2014. Wilson Kerby documented his diagnosis and demise on Facebook and on his blog -- and now, his widow and grown children treasure the words he left behind.
Tony Martin-Vegue, left, his wife Christina Kerby holding a photo of her father Wilson Kerby, Wilson's wife Bonnie Banks, and Wilson's son Logan Kerby at the home of Bonnie Banks in Sacramento on Friday, January 3, 2014. Wilson Kerby documented his diagnosis and demise on Facebook and on his blog -- and now, his widow and grown children treasure the words he left behind. Randall Benton RBenton@sacbee.com
Tony Martin-Vegue, left, his wife Christina Kerby holding a photo of her father Wilson Kerby, Wilson's wife Bonnie Banks, and Wilson's son Logan Kerby at the home of Bonnie Banks in Sacramento on Friday, January 3, 2014. Wilson Kerby documented his diagnosis and demise on Facebook and on his blog -- and now, his widow and grown children treasure the words he left behind. Randall Benton RBenton@sacbee.com

Sacramento Bee reporter Anita Creamer has received recognition in the Inland Press Association’s 2014 Newsroom Contests for a story about retired Sacramento teacher Wilson Kerby’s Facebook and blog accounts of the final four months of his life.

Creamer was awarded second place in the Local News Writing, Personality/Profiles category for newspapers with circulation of more than 100,000. The story, “Life affirmed in online death,” was published Jan. 12.

Kerby, who taught Spanish and German in Sacramento public and private schools for four decades, died Dec. 18, 2013, at age 75 after a four-month bout with lung cancer. Kerby used social media to keep in touch with people as he documented his experiences during the months after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Each of the Inland Press Association contests was co-sponsored and judged by a university school of journalism. Candidates for the Local News Writing Awards were judged by the School of Journalism and Telecommunications at the University of Kentucky.

Call The Bee’s Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.

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