"Be careful what you wish for. It might come true."
When Roz Varon heard those words from ABC7's general manager in 1989, her life was about to drastically change. She had already spent nine years as a radio traffic reporter, and was offered a job as Chicago's first TV traffic reporter on the morning news-and one of the first in the entire country.
At the time, Varon didn't have any on-air experience and admits that she was "looking for an on-camera thing to do to make more money."
"It was wild. I was getting on-the-job training at the number-one station in the number-three market in the country," she reflected. "And I've been here ever since. When I started, I didn't think I would stay here for the rest of my career. But 35 years later, here I am."
Over the course of her tenure at ABC7, Varon expanded her role to include extensive coverage of the station's transportation beat. She also launched
Weekender
, a weekly series highlighting a roundup of Chicago-area events.
She has won multiple Emmy Awards in traffic reporting, specialty programming, spot news, and features, and wrote
On the Road with Roz: Adventures in Travel and Life
, a book about her family's travels on Route 66 and around the world.
As one of few Jewish on-air personalities in Chicago, Varon has embraced serving as an educator throughout her career, which she says has come naturally to her since an early age.
"During my first year of college, probably less than 1% of the student population was Jewish," she remembered. "The other students in the dorm found my Judaism fascinating because they didn't know anything about it.
"It really sparked something in me that said, 'You need to explain this and maybe if you explain it, people won't be so fearful, because prejudice and antisemitism come from ignorance,'" Varon continued. "Students would come into my dorm, and I'd light candles at Chanukah and read the prayers. They would say, 'That's so cool.'"
Varon, who celebrated her bat mitzvah alongside her daughter in 2006, has remained committed to educating others about Jewish traditions and customs. "I could continue teaching people and sharing things through social media," she said. "It has been something very near and dear to me."
Off air, Varon is an active member at Oak Park Temple B'nai Abraham Zion, and has partnered with JCC Chicago to promote programs such as the Jewish Film Festival and Violins of Hope. She also serves as the Honorary Chairperson of Women inPower, JCC Chicago's fellowship for women seeking to advance their professional careers and pursue senior leadership positions.
"Sometimes, someone's professional persona doesn't match their personal persona," said Ilene Uhlmann, Director of Community Impact at JCC Chicago. "But every time that I have been with Roz, she has been real. She is a very thoughtful, special human being."
Another cause close to Varon's heart is cancer prevention and awareness. As a stage 4 breast cancer survivor, she is committed to helping others facing similar battles. "I'm very gratified that I'm able to help people," she said. "From day one, I've been very open about it. We had camera operators come to my house, and I would record messages to let everybody know how I was doing. It was encouraging for others to see that we were going through that same journey."
So, what's next for Varon?
"I need sleep," she said, laughing. While Varon is excited to sleep past her 1:30 a.m. alarm, she wants to spend more time with her daughter, who recently moved to Albuquerque, N.M., her friends, and her pets. She looks forward to getting more involved in her synagogue and participating in educational programming.
While she encourages hard work and perseverance to achieve career success, Varon has specific advice for Jewish professionals in all industries: "No matter what career you go into, be proud. Don't be afraid."
