Nightly news anchor Chet Curtis  passed away yesterday after almost 50 years of reporting in Boston and losing his battle to cancer. He is best known for co-hosting the weekday news magazine show “chronicle” on WCVB with Natalie Jacobson. From the 70’s to the 90’s TV ratings sky-rocketed as this married duo brought the news to their homes.

“He was known as the ‘mayor’ of the newsroom; she was the ‘madonna’ of local broadcast news. They commanded six-figure salaries and rock-star status,” writes Joseph P. Kahn from the BostonGlobe.

Together “Chet-n-Nat” covered major key news stories including visits of Queen Elizabeth, the Bicentennial, the Tall Ships and  Pope John II. As well as national conventions, presidential campaigns, and major weather stories. In 1981 they took first place in the ratings.

He began his career at 15 reading news for a local radio station in Amsterdam, NY. He then worked in Washington D.C. and New York City before landing in Boston in 1968.

Curtis was well known for his ability to handle anything. His soothing voice delivered the news in a calm and reassuring way.

“If the world was coming to an end at 7, Chet Curtis was the guy you wanted to break the news to you at 6,” writes WBUR‘s David Boeri.

But of course all good things come to an end. TV ratings began to drop and Curtis and Jacobson divorced in 2001. As Jacobson continues to anchor for WCVB, Curtis switched over to NECN as a 8pm newscast anchor. For the past 10 years Curtis anchored The Chet Curtis Report and co-anchored New England Business Day.

Last year, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

At the ceremony he showed his gratitude by reminiscing that he “won the lottery every time the camera blinked on,” Curtis said. “It is the stuff of dreams to be paid for doing what you’ve done, what you love.”

Continued Curtis, “Thank you for this rich honor. Thank you for 50 great years.”

(Photo curtsey of Boston.com)