Longtime reporter at WPXI
A beloved pillar of Pittsburgh’s news community, a TV reporter who served his audience everywhere from the scenes of midnight sirens and morning squalls to Super Bowl parades, DeHaven “Dee” Thompson died on Thursday. He was 84.
For decades, whenever inclement weather raised its ugly maw or emergency lights cut through the darkness, Mr. Thompson was there covering the story for Pittsburgh NBC- affiliate WPXI.
“It was always said that if there was a fire, there was Dee. If there was a tragedy, there was Dee. If there was anything to report at late night that people were not aware of, they would look to Dee Thompson, because they knew he’d be on the spot,” said Ty Miller, Mr. Thompson’s friend since the late 1980s and a “Championship Chase” colleague of 15 years.
Pat O’Keefe, a retired WPXI cameraman and videographer of 52 years, was right there with Mr. Thompson in many of those lessthan-pleasant spots for 15 years.
“We were out in so much bad weather, [WDVE radio personnel] started a thing asking ‘How cold is Dee Thompson today?’ ” Mr. O’Keefe said with a laugh.
He also recalled his friend helping him run cables up trees and hillsides, even when rushed for time.
“He was not a co-worker; he was a friend. We just clicked. I couldn’t wait until he came in because we really enjoyed each other,” said Mr. O’Keefe, fighting back tears. “I would’ve liked to have him as a dad.”
During an interview with the Post-Gazette back in 2009, Mr. Thompson reflected on his reputation as being someone who was always in the thick of things.
“It is rough, but after a while it became a joke. The guys on the radio make fun of me, ‘There’s Dee Thompson in the cold again on the parkway,’ ” Mr. Thompson said. “It’s OK. I have fun with everybody with it. It didn’t bother me. It became part of me in a way after a while.”
In Mr. Miller’s eyes, it was an idea that spoke to the collected nature of “the nicest person” he ever met in the media business.
“He had a meekness that was a form of power, a quiet meekness that was a form of confidence and power under control,” Mr. Miller said. “I can’t stress that enough.”
According to Mr. O’Keefe, that was something local officials picked up on readily.
“We wouldn’t have to go to people, people would come to him to talk,” Mr. O’Keefe said.
Known for his cut-ins in the wee morning hours amid storm and strife for WPXI as well as his passionate sports reporting for the station, Mr. Thompson embodied the adventurous boots- on- theground spirit and the versatility of his profession.
“You never know what will happen or where you’re going to be, and that’s kind of exciting,” said Mr. Thompson in 2009.
Born in Philadelphia in 1939 and raised in New Brighton, Mr. Thompson entered the news industry at just 16 years old with the Beaver Falls News-Tribune, where he worked for nine years. His first gig unfolded in a bit more storied fashion than most, having covered Joe Namath during his four years at Beaver Falls High School.
As a young man, Mr. Thompson served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and attended Geneva College before landing his first TV role at Pittsburgh ABC-affiliate WTAE, covering sports and news.
During his eight-year tenure there, he not only interviewed Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente, but also covered the Baseball Hall of Famer’s death in December 1972, including traveling to Puerto Rico to cover the search for his remains.
Mr. Thompson was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan, “never missing a home Steelers game,” according to the death notice posted by his family. That same level of dedication also extended to his career, where he was said at one time to have not missed a day of work for a stretch of 27 years.
During his time at WPXI, which began as a sports reporter in 1974, he covered the Steelers as they ventured to four Super Bowls and also helmed a post-game TV show called “Fifth Quarter.”
Fourteen years after Mr. Thompson’s arrival at WPXI, in 1987, the station asked him if he would move to a news role amid changes to the station’s sports reporting staff. After that time, he remained a general news reporter for the rest of his career, before retiring in September 2009.
“He was a person who was an unsung media hero, specifically when you talk about people in the Black community,” said Mr. Miller of “the model of consistency” he’d personally sought out when creating the show in 2009, noting Mr. Thompson became a role model for numerous individuals involved in its production.
“He came through Pittsburgh TV at a time when it wasn’t really open in terms of African Americans doing a whole lot on TV. So within that, there was a lot of challenges he probably went through, but he never wavered in the face of adversity.”
Mr. Thompson is survived by two daughters, Shannon Thompson and Tara (Brandon) Arthur, and two grandchildren, Bree Arthur and Braxton Arthur.
A memorial visitation is planned for Friday, May 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the SaulGabauer Funeral Home in Rochester.