The Boyer family, from left, Meg, Brynn, Brent and Avery in Maui in 2019.
Brent Boyer/Courtesy photo
When Meg Boyer arrived at the offices of the Steamboat Pilot & Today in 2003, she was fresh out of the University of Nebraska, and her new boss could already see the potential.
“Meg taught me a lot about leadership,” said Scott Stanford, who served as the managing editor from 2001-07 and held a number of top positions at the Pilot & Today before leaving in 2013 to become general manager of the media division for World West in Lawrence, Kansas.
“I say that because watching her grow and watching her career blossom just really opened my eyes to hiring the right people and getting out of their way,” Stanford continued. “I think Meg is the most talented newspaper person I’ve ever worked with.”
This week, friends and family stretching from Steamboat Springs to Summit County and beyond are remembering the young woman who touched so many of their lives. Boyer, 40, died Saturday, Dec. 25, in Summit County, just over three years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
“I think for me, and so many people who came to know and love Meg, she’s just a great person at her core,” said Brent Boyer, Meg’s husband of 13 years. “She was driven professionally, but she was also fun, loving, kind and compassionate.”
Her professional drive helped her quickly rise through the ranks at the Pilot & Today, as she moved from copy editor, to news editor and to creative services director before finally being named advertising director.
Editor & Publisher named Boyer one of its 25 Under 35, and the Colorado Press Association recognized her with a Best of Show award for design and an award for innovation.
Brent and Meg Boyer take a selfie in the Yampa River Botanic Park, where they were married in August 2008.
Brent Boyer/Courtesy photo
“She was just like the most thorough person that I’ve ever worked with,” said Karen Gilchrist, a longtime multimedia marketing consultant with the Pilot & Today. “When (Boyer) moved into advertising, she just always had my back and was a huge supporter. … She was the real deal.”
Summit Daily News Editor Nicole Miller said Boyer hired her to work at the Pilot & Today straight out of college and that the two had a chance to reunite a few years ago when Boyer needed a managing editor for the Summit Daily.
“She gave me a call when she was in need of an editor in Summit County, and I just wanted to work with Meg again,” Miller said. “So I left Steamboat, and I moved all the way to Summit County just so I could work with her because she’s a really incredible mentor to me.”
Meg Boyer with husband Brent.
Brent Boyer/Courtesy photo
Boyer’s efforts were also noticed outside the Pilot & Today offices. In 2013, after being recruited by McClatchy, Meg and Brent Boyer, who was managing editor at the time, made the difficult decision to leave Steamboat …….