Nesita Kwan

Telling colleagues it was “undoubtedly time to take this fork in the road,” Nesita Kwan has signed off after more than 20 years as a reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.

“I want to thank Nesita for her many years of service to our news team,” Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5, told staffers in a memo. Kwan’s last day on the air was Wednesday.

Best known for her long tenure as health reporter, Kwan joined NBC 5 in 1994 as weekend news anchor. She most recently worked as a general assignment reporter.

“As I look back over the last two decades, I see an abundance of good fortune and blessing: that’s one of the reasons it’s hard to leave this well-traveled path,” she wrote in an email to co-workers. “But for me, it’s also undoubtedly time to take this fork in the road, leading to the next phase in my life.”

Born in Montreal, Kwan moved with her family to the United States at age 10 and graduated with honors from the University of Virginia. Before joining NBC 5, she worked for KHOU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston, and for stations in Roanoke and Norfolk, Virginia.

Here is the text of Kwan’s letter to her colleagues:

To my NBC family:

A note like this can’t capture everything I feel as I wrap up more than twenty years of my professional life at Channel Five.

I know I’ll be in touch for more personal goodbyes . . . but I relish this chance to express my deep gratitude for all the open hearted colleagues who unfailingly and consistently offered support in both personal and professional ways.

I cherish the laughter we shared . . . those moments of triumph when we got the story on the air against all odds . . . and all the ingenuity and perseverance you displayed, which made me love my work all the more.

I think we sometimes brought light where there was darkness, and assistance where there was difficulty. That I am sure you will continue to do.

As I look back over the last two decades, I see an abundance of good fortune and blessing: that’s one of the reasons it’s hard to leave this well-traveled path.

But for me, it’s also undoubtedly time to take this fork in the road, leading to the next phase in my life.

I’m not ready for goodbye, but I do envision a time in the not too distant future when we will gather to say hello again . . . to share the stories of how life has unfolded, and to celebrate all the new things for which we are grateful. You remain close to my heart until then.

Peace and health in this new year.

With love, Nesita