The Connecticut journalism world was rocked today by news that two local mainstays are moving on. We learned about the departures of these legends whom I consider friends via something that wasn’t even thought of when these guys started out in the business: Twitter.

Hartford Courant politics editor Rick Green is leaving for his native Vermont to take over as communications director of the University of Vermont Foundation in Burlington. Rick has been at Connecticut’s largest newspaper for 27 years, and has been a frequent guest on Face the State, and one of my favorite people to have on the program. He has added tremendous insight to political stories we’ve covered and we will miss him.

A few hours later another tweet announced the news that former Face the State moderator Al Terzi was retiring from the anchor desk at WTIC-TV, although he will continue to co-host the Real Story. He and wife Carolyn are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year, and Al indicated some cool travel plans are in the works.

Al is known as the dean of Connecticut television and has been in the broadcasting business for about 50 years. Over a span of 17 years Al and I were part of the evening news team here at WFSB along with Denise D’Ascenzo, and when “Big Al” moved on in 2012, our newsroom gave him a well deserved standing ovation. Watch that and some rare old video of Al right here: https://dennishouse.tv/2012/02/23/goodbye-big-al/

Al’s boss, Coleen Marren praised Al today. Here’s an excerpt of what she said:

“let me say a little bit about Al, because as usual, he’s been too modest to talk much about what he’s accomplished over the course of his life and the more than four decades he has spent covering news in this market. On the news side, Al is a two-time regional Emmy winner and the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the New England Associated Press/RTNDA. He was also honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with a Silver Circle Award for his 25+ years of television service. Al has covered politics like no one else in this state, including presidential campaigns, and he’s interviewed every major politician who’s played a role in shaping Connecticut’s history.”

We wish both Rick and Al the very best as they move on to the next phases of their remarkable lives. The people of Connecticut are better for having had these reporters on the beat for so long, and their departures are tremendous blows to local journalism.

The Courant’s Mary Ellen Fillo has more on Al’s departure: http://courantblogs.com/java/fox-ct-terzi-stepping-down-from-anchor-desk/

For more on Al and Rick just put their names in the search box to the right>