Diane Levick, stalwart of business news for a quarter-century, is leaving the Courant. Diane has been one of the great beat reporters, having covered insurance — the key local industry — for all of her 25 years in business news.
Diane started at The Courant in 1977. After breaking news of a New Britain corruption investigation, Diane moved to the world of finance, where she has survived 12 business editors. In that time, she had the first story in the nation on drive-through mastectomies — quoting Edith Prague about the “outrage” (some things never change) — which led to national attention and state reforms.
Diane also broke the story that insurers were using credit-scoring, setting the stage for a perennial battle, and the news of Travelers historic purchase of Aetna’s property-casualty business in 1995.
Many victims of mental and physical illness owe Diane, as they benefited not only from her stories that led to coverage law changes, but also from her compassionate and dignified accounts of their struggles. From last year:
“Young Kathryn Laudadio, already battling anorexia and various mental disorders, now has another demon crushing her — guilt that her parents had to pay thousands for a treatment program last summer because insurance wouldn’t cover it.” The collected stories of that genre alone tell the story of a society, and an industry, evolving.
And who will ever forget Diane’s interview with Aetna CEO Dick Huber about a $120 million judgment against the company in which he said: “You had a skillful ambulance-chasing lawyer, a politically motivated judge and a weeping widow. That’s no way to get justice and certainly no way to manage a trillion-dollar industry.”
Diane is leaving on disability because of a progressive disorder. Her tireless and dedicated efforts in the face of that have been a lasting inspiration for all of us who have worked with her. Her last day is July 28.
We’ll miss her dry sense of humor, the sound of her plying sources on the phone and mostly the daily companionship of someone with more passion in her 32nd year in the business than many of us had on day one.
– DAN HAAR
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Amen…
I don’t think Diane ever got enough credit (outside the business department) for her great coverage of the insurance industry. That’s a nice, well-deserved career review by Dan.
Thanks Dan for recognizing one of the Courant’s best, most tireless reporters. Diane not only did a great job, and did it consistently, but she was a great resource for those of us who had trouble understanding insurance and health matters….and I’ll tell ya, the Courant really will miss her, just like it misses John MacDonald, as this health care reform mess keeps bumbling along in Washington.
Diane is a one-of-a-kind journalist who earned the respect of the business community for her unwavering commitment to the public’s right-to-know. Thank, Dan, for a great piece.
Dan’s send-off says it all. Diane is a real pro. She made the esoteric world of insurance meaningful to those of us who struggle to complete an on-line Geico form.
Ditto to all of the above, with one added thought. While I agree with Larry that many folks within the Courant didn’t give her the credit she deserved, she was respected by those in the insurance industry. I attended an insurance-related news conference once with Diane when I was covering real estate and the folks in the industry acted as if Walter Cronkite had come to cover their event.
I agree with Theresa. When the news reached Aetna, the media folks reacted with sadness — even though they might not always have agreed with her, they have imense respect for her, her professionalism, her tenacity, her commitment to her readers, and they realize that her institutional knowledge will not be replaced, especially in the the Sam Zell era. It has been interesting for me to hear the other side of Diane’s calls now that I’m at Aetna. One woman recently hung up the phone after talking to Diane and said “Damn, why is she so good.” Damn right, indeed.
Ditto to the above. Diane’s reporting has followed me through my 15-year career as a PR spokesperson for the CT Hospital Association, ConnectiCare and Aetna. Whenever Diane called for a comment, I would always get that feeling in the pit of my stomach – knowing that she wouldn’t quit until she got to the root of the issue and exposed the nerve. I always knew that her story would be fair, even if it would be difficult to admit it. I recall waking up many mornings at 4 am to check the Courant site for an article we were anticipating, eager to read it before getting into the office as it would set the tone for the day. A good article by Diane was like winning a rare prize and was worthy of bragging rights. She certainly is and will remain a true pro. It has been my pleasure to have been on the other end of the phone answering her questions over the years.
I have the greatest respect and fondness for both Dan and Diane, having working with both for many, many years. But since its Diane’s turn in the limelight I would like to mention a couple of things from my vantage point as her editor.
First, she had about equal scorn for editors as she did for insurance officials who tried – without success – to spin her. She knows more about insurance than any other reporter, and probably many insurance executives.
What really struck me was her work ethic, always giving 100, never complaining about physical ailments, and frequently having a wonderful sense of humor. Whenever, I felt down, all I had to do is look at her slaving away, doing things she didn’t have to, but she felt it was her who was going to do it, or no one.
I will never forget the touching card she sent me when my cat, Ninja passed. I was so torn up because that cat was like a child. She understood that. She is like an Israili Sabra – tough on the outside, but softy inside. Few realize at the Courant how Diane will not be replaced. I hope she can find enjoyment in her retirement, she deserves all the happiness available. George Gombossy