Longtime CBS Anchor Announces Tragic News
The Rather family has shared heartbreaking news.
Jean Rather, beloved wife of former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, 93, passed away Tuesday at the age of 89. She died peacefully at the couple’s home in Austin, Texas, following a battle with cancer, surrounded by family, friends, and her cherished artwork.
Born in Smithville, Texas, she grew up with her two sisters, Jo Ann and Karen, and carried her small-town roots into a life that would eventually span continents. Her marriage to Dan Rather in 1957 marked the beginning of a partnership that would endure for 67 years, weathering the demands of a career that often made headlines but never overshadowed their shared bond.
NEW YORK-OCT 1: News anchor Dan Rather (L) and wife Jean Goebel attend the ‘Gravity’ premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on October 1, 2013 in New York City.
“Jean lived a full life as an incredible wife, mother, friend, and artist — and a true Texan,” read a statement from Dan Rather’s friends on Facebook. Jean had been married to her husband, Dan, for 67 years.
The couple’s journey took them from Houston to the bustling metropolises of Dallas, Washington, D.C., London, and New York City before they returned to their beloved Texas in 2021. Through it all, Jean remained a source of support for her husband, who often credited her with being his anchor in turbulent times.
Washington DC. USA, 18th March, 1993
Dan Rather at the RTCA dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel
Her talents extended beyond her family role. Jean was an accomplished artist, her works displayed in galleries across the United States. She served as the Vice Chair of the Art Commission of the City of New York for eight years and contributed her expertise to nonprofit boards, including the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the Harry Ransom Center.
Her philosophy was informed by careful study of masterpieces in museums around the world, which she approached with reverence and her own unique contemporary style. She is survived by her husband, Dan; her son, Danjack, along with his partner, Ann Prunty, and their son, Martin, of New York; her daughter, Robin, and her partner, Mike Marler, as well as their son, Andy, of Austin.
Washington DC. USA, 6th December, 1991
Dan Rather and his daughter Robin arrive at the Kennedy Center Honors.
Jean’s husband, Dan Rather, a celebrated journalist, television news anchor, and author, is best known for his 24-year tenure as the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 1981 to 2005. Born in 1931, in Wharton, Texas, Rather rose to prominence through a career spanning over six decades.
His groundbreaking reporting began with his coverage of Hurricane Carla in 1961, where he pioneered the use of radar imagery on television, and continued with his critical role in covering the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. His fearless reporting extended to the Vietnam War, where his work solidified his reputation as one of the era’s most dedicated journalists.
In 1981, Rather succeeded Walter Cronkite as the anchor of the CBS Evening News, guiding the broadcast through major historical events like the end of the Cold War, the Gulf War, and the 9/11 attacks. However, his career faced turbulence in 2004 when a report he anchored about President George W. Bush’s Texas Air National Guard service came under scrutiny due to disputed document authenticity. The controversy led to Rather’s departure from CBS in 2005.
After leaving CBS, Rather remained active in journalism, founding News and Guts, an independent production company. Known for his folksy expressions and incisive storytelling, Rather earned numerous accolades throughout his career, including multiple Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. Today, Dan is regarded as one of the most influential figures in broadcast journalism.