An ambassador whose gifts will be missed

In three days, an era will end.

Let’s just call it Devin’s Time.

No, thank God, she’s not sick or dying. Devin Weeks, who has covered education and written hundreds of human interest stories for The Press over the past almost nine years, is moving on. In her case, the pearly gates of the communications department at Kootenai Health will warmly welcome her.

Our loss. Their great gain.

Sometimes, in this or any business, you find yourself working side by side with grumpy people. Rotation of the work-a-day world can be powered meekly by mediocrity. Average is good enough; get the minimum done and call it good.

Well, it’s not good. And the paragraph above does not describe Devin.

When she started here, Devin Heilman back then, she was an eager, enthusiastic and somewhat unpolished reporter — kind of like all reporters digging in on their first professional gig. While she quickly got the basics down and then some, recessions came and went. Colleagues came and went. Loved ones came and went. Life went on, and in every way, Devin Weeks never lost that eager, enthusiastic approach to a job that can rip your heart out if you let it.

Devin’s heart was bigger than that. As the years slipped by, more and more, Devin became the go-to storyteller for The Press. Sources would call the editors and explain what was going on — and, almost invariably, would ask nicely if maybe Devin was available to tell that story. It is entirely possible that this newspaper, which has been around a mere 129 years, never has had a better ambassador than Reporter Devin Weeks.

Inside the newsroom, we have seen her shed tears of joy, celebrating others’ victories in life. We have seen the other kind of tears, too, the sort that fill pools of compassion in a world sometimes overflowing with sorrow. But most of all, we will think of that million-watt Devin smile, the abrupt, beautiful bursts of laughter, the gentle word that lies in precisely the right spot when somebody really needs to hear it.

Damn it, Devin, we’re going to miss you.

Readers, you will too. The hope here is that Devin’s familiar name will still reach these pages as a possible hospital source or as a Kootenai Health writer whose work is published with us. If there’s a silver lining in this transition, it’s that Devin will remain part of the community she loves so much, and that loves her right back.

Her email is dweeks@cdapress.com. Her work phone number is 208-664-8176 ext. 1111.

Three days. That’s how long you’ve got to wish her the very best on her exciting new adventure.

Sympathy cards to Press editors will be welcomed.