By Joyce Mitchell

A difficult article to write. Coworkers are flooding Sacramento’s “Lucky 13” Facebook page with memories of Photojournalist Kathy Newell. Not only was she well liked and respected in the KOVR 13 newsroom, she was a stellar news and feature photographer. 

Newell died February 5, 2026 at the age of 67-years-old after a decade long battle with cancer. Throughout those years, she remained positive and upbeat, fighting hard for her life, staving off the dreadful disease for as long as she good. Eventually, cancer won.

Former Channel 13 News Anchor Jennifer Whitney said Newell was exceptionally good at her craft. “It wasn’t easy for Kathy, especially as a woman in a male dominated field. Still, she excelled.” 

Newell tackled cancer like she did everything else – with all of her might. That was evident in her assignments at CBS13. Nothing in Newell’s life was ever mediocre. She wanted her stories and long-format pieces to be exceptional. She connected with her producers and reporters and was a great travel companion.

Former Stockton Bureau Chief and Reporter Craig Prosser said she was great to go places with because of her easy-going attitude. Not everyone got smiles, though. You had to mean business. “I had a lot of respect for her,” said Stan Pechner, a former KOVR 13 news photographer. “She was one of the first female camera ops I worked with back in the day. A strong force and good shooter.”

The KOVR camera operators were some of the very best – anywhere. Dennis Marin was among them. “Kathy was a talented photographer and held her own in the male testosterone photo department,” said Marin.

Newell held her own because she was driven. When CBS13 News Anchor Stan Atkinson retired, Newell was assigned to photograph and edit the one-hour farewell newscast. From interviewing Governor Jerry Brown to former State Treasurer B.T. Collins, to multitudes of news people, Newell told stories like she was Stan’s best friend. The light shined and the one-hour broadcast was exceptional.

Living with cancer, Newell remained very private, living in the foothills of Northern California. Still, she sparingly let in a few people, speaking and visiting with former colleagues. 

Former Channel 13 Director Kathyanne Thompson Tucker admires the courage Newell put forth. “I deeply respected her,” Tucker said. “She carved a path for women in the workplace. May she rest in peace.”