If you lived in Chicago anytime over the last thirty years, Roz Varon was basically a member of your family. You woke up, poured coffee, and waited for her to tell you if the Kennedy Expressway was a parking lot or if you actually had a shot at getting to work on time. She was the steady hand at ABC7 Chicago. But for Roz, the person she held closest wasn't a viewer—it was her daughter, Sara Janz.
People started asking questions recently. There was a shift in the air, a sadness that didn't quite fit the retirement celebrations Roz had just enjoyed. Honestly, the news that started circulating in early 2025 was the kind that stops you in your tracks. What happened to Roz Varon's daughter is a story of a life cut incredibly short and a mother’s mission to make sure that life actually meant something to the next generation of storytellers.
The unexpected loss of Sara Janz
It’s hard to wrap your head around. Sara Janz was only 29 years old.
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She passed away on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025. It wasn't something anyone saw coming. Reports from the station and family tributes mentioned an "unexpected medical event" or complications from an illness. Just like that, a young woman who had literally grown up on Chicago television screens—appearing in segments with her mom since she was a toddler—was gone.
She had just started a new chapter, too. Sara had recently moved to New Mexico to begin her married life with her husband, Staff Sergeant Darien Jackson. You’ve probably seen the photos of her; she had this massive, radiant smile that felt just as familiar as her mother’s. To lose someone at 29, especially right as they are building their own world, is just heavy. There’s no other way to put it.
A legacy in the Chicago media world
Sara didn't just ride her mom's coattails. She was a force in her own right. She worked as a freelance photographer and was deeply embedded in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Chicago/Midwest Chapter.
Why she mattered to the industry
- The Junior Board: Sara was instrumental in founding the NATAS Junior Board. She saw a gap where younger voices weren't being heard in the industry and decided to build the bridge herself.
- Photography: She had a creative eye, working with groups like Growing Community Media to capture stories through her lens.
- Mentorship: Even though she was young, she was constantly volunteering at events, helping the next wave of media students find their footing.
Kinda amazing when you think about it. Most people in their 20s are just trying to figure out how to pay rent, but she was busy building infrastructure for other people to succeed.
The Sara Janz Take Your Shot Memorial Scholarship
Roz Varon has always been a fighter. You might remember her public battle with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer years ago. She fought then so she could be there to raise Sara. Now, she’s fighting to keep Sara’s memory from fading.
Shortly after the tragedy, Roz and her family established the Sara Janz "Take Your Shot" Memorial Scholarship.
It’s a perfect name. "Take Your Shot" reflects Sara’s love for photography and her "just go for it" attitude toward life. The scholarship is designed to help students pursuing careers in media, specifically those who show the same kind of leadership and passion Sara did. In late 2025, a massive fundraiser called "Stars for Sara" was held at the Des Plaines Theatre. Musicians, media personalities, and old colleagues from ABC7 all showed up. It wasn't just a sad memorial; it was a loud, musical, energetic celebration.
What we can learn from this
Loss is weird. It’s messy and it doesn't follow a script. But seeing how the Chicago community rallied around Roz and the memory of her daughter tells you everything you need to know about the impact they both had.
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If you want to support what Sara stood for, there are concrete ways to do it. You can look into the NATAS Chicago/Midwest Chapter's foundation. They handle the scholarship funds. Most people think "supporting" means just leaving a comment on a Facebook post, but for a family dealing with this kind of hole in their lives, seeing a student get a tuition check because of their daughter? That’s the real stuff.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Donate directly: You can contribute to the Sara Janz Memorial Scholarship Fund through the NATAS Chicago Foundation. They often use a dedicated link (like the tinyurl.com/natasgive mentioned in memorial services).
- Support local media: Sara was big on "Growing Community Media." Supporting your local community newspapers or independent photographers keeps the spirit of her work alive.
- Check in on your people: Life is short. 29 is way too young. It’s a cliche because it’s true—call your mom, call your daughter, just be there.