Wednesday, March 1, 2023
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Todd was such a joy to cover the news of the day with. I was blessed to spend my days traveling in the Carolinas and beyond with him for years. If we were on a still bust in Johnston County, Todd always had a supply of Milk Bones to win over the Pit Bulls that would come running when we pulled up to the scene. At least once, one or more of those dogs claimed Todd as their own and sat in the live truck with the animal-loving artist as he edited our story. He was a man of unfailing creativity. We were always dispatched to the Outer Banks days before a hurricane would actually get there. Within hours, Todd would meet a bunch of surfers or a turtle rescue group with great stories to chronicle. When Sarah had outgrown Todd's toddler seat on the back of his bicycle, he sent it to me so I could place it on the back of my bike and take my toddler with me. He was about five years ahead of me in the fatherhood game and could always be counted on for no-nonsense advice. When the boys got together to sail the Pamlico Sound for several years after we were no longer working together, we always counted on Todd to do the superhero stuff like going up in a bosun's chair to fix the rigging on our suspect vessel. Oh, how I loved Todd. Given how scorching my grief is, I know this must be even more heartbreaking for Shelley, Sarah, Mark, and Dolce. Kathi and I are holding all of you in the light and in our prayers.
