WGCU news director Julie Glenn, 50, dies; mentored young journalists, wine expert, blogger

Julie Denine Glenn had an eclectic impact on Southwest Florida, from expertise with wines to promoting aspiring journalists and keeping WGCU as a vital local media presence.

Glenn, 50, news director for WGCU Public Media and an Estero resident, died Saturday in Bonita Springs after a progression of glioblastoma, a highly malignant form of cancer in the brain and spinal cord.

"Julie’s passing is a real loss to WGCU, FGCU and all of us who knew and appreciated her," FGCU President Michael V. Martin said. "She was a talented and dedicated colleague and friend. We send our sincere sympathy to her family."

At WGCU Public Media, Glenn had been news director, talk show host, reporter, podcast creator and co-host, nurturer of young journalists and an optimistic, inspiring and fun friend and colleague.

She began her career at WGCU in November 2016 and took over as interim news director in 2017 as Hurricane Irma bore down on Southwest Florida.

Rick Johnson, former general manager of WGCU Public Media, said Glenn jumped into that role without hesitation.

"It was under that circumstance that Julie ... accepted the responsibility of leading the WGCU news team that kept Southwest Florida informed over the course of the terrible days leading up to, during, and after Irma’s march through Southwest Florida," Johnson said in a remembrance on WGCU's website. "WGCU’s non-stop coverage — led by Julie Glenn — was recognized for its excellence by national and regional journalism organizations and was profiled by the Washington Post as exemplifying the critical importance of local journalism."

More: Software to silverware

More: From Cuba with love

More: The perfect pairing

“Julie was larger than life,” said longtime friend Catherine Bergerson of Naples, who met and befriended Glenn in 2004 while both were anchor reporters at WGEM in Quincy, Illinois.

By 2006, both were in Southwest Florida, Bergerson as a reporter for Waterman Broadcasting, later moving to public relations and Glenn as a wine company representative, columnist and a freelance writer for numerous local and national publications.

“Julie’s friends are innumerable. She and Ro generously opened their home to friends and family. Always cooking delicious meals, opening a carefully selected bottle of wine, and sharing time with stories and laughter. Julie’s fierce loyalty to those she loved, her quick wit, clever quips, love of music and a spontaneous living room dance party, made her a one-in-a-million kind of friend.”

She is survived by her husband, Rosario Fragale; her daughter, Arianna Susan Fragale, 11; and her father, Dennis (Linda) Glenn of Estero. She was the daughter of the late Susan Glenn.

Glenn was a graduate in mass communication theory from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, where she was raised.

Glenn also earned a master’s degree in food and wine from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy, and a master’s in communication of quality products from Universita Degli Studi di Scienze Gastronomiche in Piedmont, Italy.

She was known in Southwest Florida and elsewhere as an accurate, compassionate journalist covering critical community stories.

Glenn served in several roles at WGCU (PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida) and received numerous accolades for her journalism with the WGCU news team including regional and national Edward R. Murrow awards. During her tenure the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters twice named WGCU as station of the year.

One of Glenn's focus areas was developing and helping young journalists. Those she helped, such as Michelle Alvarez, a reporter now at WINK news, pointed to her practice of celebrating their successes to others who could help their careers.

The Fort Myers TV reporter said Glenn helped her with all facets of the media world.

"I got my foot in the door at WGCU and she pretty much was there the whole time. I told her eventually my goal was to be on TV," Alvarez recounted.

"Ever since then she truly helped me out with that," she added. "With everything, with reporting, with my voice, with performance. She was there the whole way."

Alvarez said that Glenn's influence tracked to even promoting the aspiring reporter's abilities to prospective employers including her work at WGCU to create a Spanish language newscast .

"I feel that truly helped me," she said.

Glenn also was co-creator and co-host of the popular WGCU/NPR Grape Minds podcast with local media personality and good friend Gina Birch.

As a former wine columnist and company representative, Glenn shared a deep knowledge of wine, grapes, geography, local history, soil conditions and more, putting that together with a sense of humor and engaging storytelling.

Glenn also collaborated with The News-Press and Naples Daily News on a series of Coronavirus Town Halls.

“Julie was a joy to work with on the series of coronavirus town halls we partnered with WGCU on,” said Mark Bickel, audience development director for a The News-Press and Naples Daily News, who presided with Glenn over several award-winning pandemic-related community forums. “Her passion for journalism was, and always will be, inspiring. She made our community a better place because of her reporting. It’s a well-deserved legacy.”

“Beyond Julie’s journalistic acumen and passion for news, she was a nurturing co-worker who always went above and beyond to celebrate someone’s birthday or recent accomplishment,” said Amy Shumaker, WGCU associate general manager for content. “If you were in need, Julie was there. We will miss her terribly.”

“Julie will forever be remembered for the incredible person she was, and for her focus on the important things in life — devotion to family, friends, community, happiness, and giving it her all, every day,” Bergerson said.

A memorial for Glenn is being planned. Glenn’s husband asks that anyone wishing to honor her life may want to offer their support to other families who need financial or emotional assistance in their fights with cancer.

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com. Dayna Harpster, a communications specialist at WGCU, contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Wines blogger, WGCU news director Julie Glenn dies from cancer