Anchor Suzanne Geha has left WOOD after more than three decades with the station. Geha began her TV news career with the Grand Rapids NBC-affiliate and now both she and the station are confirming her departure.
In a brief statement sent out today, WOOD thanked Geha for “her many years of commitment” and announced that the station’s new primetime anchor team would be Susan Shaw and Brian Sterling.
Geha, the first woman to anchor a primetime newscast in West Michigan, has anchored WOOD’s 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts for decades, continually landing them atop the local ratings.
She joined WOOD upon graduating from Western Michigan University in the early 70s and, besides a 3-year stint with Detroit’s WXYZ, has been with the station ever since.
Geha posted the following on her Facebook page today:
With much regret, I confirm I no longer work for WOOD-TV-8. This is a very sad day for me. West Michigan is a great place to broadcast news. I want my colleagues to know what a privilege it is working with you. I want my viewers to know what an honor it is bringing you the stories that affect your lives and your communities. Thank you for your loyal support through the years. I hope I can count on it in the future.
While The Grand Rapids Press today called Geha “a love-her-or-hate-her icon in local television,” the 50+ comments on her Facebook post have been overwhelmingly in the “love-her” category.
One commenter even speculated on where Geha may land next: “Taking over for Meredith Vieria on the Today show?”
Here’s a WOOD promo featuring Geha, as well as Shaw and Sterling: