Mary Beth Hartill Obituary, Death – The news of reporter Mary Beth Hartill’s passing has hit the team hard at the Bracebridge Examiner, the Almaguin News, and MuskokaRegion.com. After a brief struggle with cancer, she passed away in the wee hours of April 12 at Andy’s House, Hospice Muskoka. She has been a reporter for Metroland for 15 years, covering both Almaguin and Bracebridge in that time.
She was a dedicated journalist who did her best work for the people she cared about. In the near future, we will publish a more in-depth description of her life and her contributions to the community, but for now, we would like to share some of the tributes we have already received. Mary Beth was an excellent journalist and a staunch supporter of Bracebridge.
Our newsroom is in shambles at her passing. She had a big heart, but she was a fierce and insistent defender of honesty and openness. Pamela Steel, Managing Editor Mary Beth was a fantastic employee and an even better person. It was always great to catch up with her and talk about what was going on in our lives and the world.
The longer we were friends, the greater our connection became. I’m sure she left a similar impression on many people; we all mourn her loss and cherish the good times we spent together. MPP for Parry Sound–Muskoka Former Bracebridge mayor and Graydon Smith It would be an understatement to say that this is sad news.
Her impact on Bracebridge as a respected, thorough, and fair source of local news for citizens and the respect that she had among me and Council was unique in local journalism. I miss her already.” Rick Maloney, mayor of Bracebridge “I will remember Mary Beth for her contagious humor, her persistent resolve to endlessly seek a story worth telling and her avoidance of any praise that took the attention from the problem at hand and put it on her.
That’s because journalism was a vital component of her identity, as undeserving of attention or praise to her as a head or hip. The immense volume of work Mary Beth has left behind is a monument to her great belief in journalism and its capacity to benefit the community. I will miss her.”— Lori Martin, assistant director of content, Metroland