{"id":2270464,"date":"2026-02-06T21:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2270464"},"modified":"2026-02-06T21:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:38:20","slug":"fan-favorite-tv-host-died-suddenly-late-last-year-cathy-brugett-was-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/fan-favorite-tv-host-died-suddenly-late-last-year-cathy-brugett-was-71\/","title":{"rendered":"Fan-Favorite TV Host ‘Died Suddenly’ Late Last Year: Cathy Brugett Was 71"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cathy Brugett, a beloved host of Cleveland\u2019s PM Magazine in the early 1980s, has passed away.<\/p>\n

Videos by Suggest<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to Town Dock<\/a>, Brugett \u201cdied suddenly\u201d on Dec. 9 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. She was 71. <\/p>\n

Brugett was one of the original hosts of the magazine-format show, co-hosting with Jim Finerty from 1979 to 1983. She later teamed up with Tony Harris and Michael Stanley.<\/p>\n

RIP Cathy Brugett \u2013 Co-host of Channel 8\u2019s PM Magazine. Source: @Cleveland_PL<\/a> in May, 1981 @ClevelandMag<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SSWPBy6HRn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John Skrtic (@SkrticX) December 12, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

Brugett eventually left the Cleveland show but continued working with the PM Magazine franchise. She and her husband, professional photographer and videographer Drew Peretzky, sailed the world, creating travel content that aired on affiliates nationwide.<\/p>\n

The couple returned to Cleveland in 1987, opening Gateway Communications, a downtown video production company. After retiring to Oriental, North Carolina, Brugett continued to write for Sherwin-Williams until her death.<\/p>\n

Cathy Brugett Was Also a Dedicated Volunteer <\/h2>\n

Meanwhile, Brugett was a dedicated volunteer in Pamlico County. She joined the Pamlico Musical Society board in 2011 and served as publicity chair for four years. Patty Rosencrantz recalled, per Town Dock, \u201cShe was so much fun to work with,\u201d noting her professional writing skills and contributions to the organization.<\/p>\n

She was a founding board member of the group that launched Neuse Neighbors Network<\/a>, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping members over 50 live independently in their own homes. She wrote training materials, publicity documents, and created the NNN website. She served in this role from 2017 to the end of 2023.<\/p>\n

Most recently, Brugett volunteered at HeartWorks in Bayboro, North Carolina. <\/p>\n

\u201cAlways a bright, smiling presence, Cathy inspired confidence in her HeartWorks students by giving them hope, creative literacy learning opportunities, and joyful positivity,\u201d Executive Director at HeartWorks, Karen Prince, told Town Dock. \u201cTypical of her inspirational teaching methods, her latest project involved co-writing a book with a struggling young student.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cathy Brugett is survived by her husband, Drew Peretzky of Arapahoe, and her mother, Sue Brugett of Oriental.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n