Roz Varon is most often reported as born on November 26, 1957. That would make her 68 today, and she would turn 69 on November 26, 2026.
Here’s the catch. ABC7 Chicago has never printed her birth year, so this number is a best estimate, not a confirmed fact.
Many people search this because she was a morning habit for Chicago drivers for 35 years. Then she retired, and fans started asking how old she is and what she does now.
This guide gives you the age answer first. Then it covers her career, family, health story and awards, with a clear line between what is proven and what is not.
Roz Varon Profile Summary
| Detail | Info |
| Full name | Roz Varon |
| Reported birthday | November 26 |
| Reported birth year | 1957 (not confirmed by ABC7) |
| Estimated age in 2026 | 68 |
| Grew up in | Niles, Illinois |
| Home area | River Forest, Illinois |
| Education | Columbia College Chicago, 1980 |
| Job | Traffic and transportation anchor |
| Station | ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV) |
| Joined ABC7 | April 1989 |
| Retired | April 5, 2024 |
| Book | On the Road with Roz: Adventures in Travel and Life |
Fast Facts About Roz Varon
- She was the first morning TV traffic reporter in Chicago.
- ABC7 calls her one of the first TV traffic reporters in the country.
- She worked in radio traffic for nine years before joining ABC7.
- She spent 35 years at ABC7.
- She announced her retirement on air on February 21, 2024.
- She is a stage 4 breast cancer survivor and a public advocate.
- Her daughter, Sara Beth Janz, died at age 29 in early 2025.
How Old Is Roz Varon in 2026?
Most sites that name a year say 1957. A few say 1958, 1959 or even 1960. They cannot all be right, and none of them cite a birth record.
Here’s one clue that helps. Roz graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 1980. Most people finish college around age 22. That fits a birth year in the late 1950s.
This table shows how the different claims change her age in 2026.
| Reported birth year | Age in 2026 (after Nov 26) |
| 1957 | 69 |
| 1958 | 68 |
| 1959 | 67 |
| 1960 | 66 |
Right now, on October 3, 2026, each person would be one year younger than the table shows. So the 1957 claim gives 68 today.
The safest way to say it is simple. Roz Varon is in her late 60s.
What Is Roz Varon’s Birthday?
The date that shows up most is November 26. Again, no official source confirms it. Treat it as a reported date, not a proven one.
What Is Roz Varon’s Height?
Her height has never been shared by ABC7 or in any reliable interview. Sites that list a number are guessing. If a source does not say where the number came from, skip it.
Who Is Roz Varon?
Roz grew up in Niles, Illinois. She earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications from Columbia College Chicago in 1980. She also worked on air at the college radio station while she studied.
After school, she reported traffic on Chicago radio for about nine years. In 1989, WLS-TV planned a new morning show. It needed a traffic anchor, and she went after the job.
She got it. ABC7 News This Morning debuted in April 1989, and she was on the original team. The station had her shadow anchor Alan Krashesky for a week to learn TV. She already knew the roads. She had to learn the camera.
What Did Roz Varon Do at ABC7 Chicago?
Her main job was telling drivers where the jams were and how to avoid them. She covered the Kennedy, the Ryan and delays on the CTA. Over time, she also covered bigger transportation news and special events.
She also made features people loved. Weekender was a weekly list of things to do around Chicago. Roz Varon’s 1 Tank Trips showed short getaways you could reach on one tank of gas. Indiana Dunes National Park was one of her favorites.
| Year | Milestone |
| 1980 | Graduated from Columbia College Chicago |
| 1980s | Nine years as a radio traffic reporter |
| 1989 | Joined ABC7 as morning traffic anchor |
| 2000 | Joined the NATAS Chicago/Midwest board of governors |
| 2006 | Diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer |
| 2017 | Published her travel book |
| 2022 | Honored with the Silver Circle |
| 2024 | Retired after 35 years |
Why Did Roz Varon Retire From ABC7?
She told viewers on February 21, 2024, that she would retire. Her last day was April 5, 2024. In an interview, she talked about years of early wake ups and driving to work in the dark.
ABC7 leaders praised her for pioneering the traffic beat. Her plan after leaving was simple. The first thing she wanted to do was clean out her house.
What Awards Has Roz Varon Won?
Roz has a long list of honors. These are the ones backed by ABC7 and the Chicago Emmy chapter.
| Award | What it recognized |
| Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards | Traffic reporting, special programs, spot news and features |
| Peter Lisagor Awards | Several wins, including her Weekender series |
| Silver Dome Award | Her breast cancer special, Faces of Inspiration |
| Girl Scouts Thanks Badge | Being a role model |
| Silver Circle | Long service in Chicago television |
Some websites claim she won exactly 16 Emmys. ABC7 only says multiple Emmys, so that count is unproven.
Roz Varon’s Breast Cancer Story
Roz found a lump in the summer of 2006. Tests showed stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes and liver. She wrote that all tumors were gone about seven months after her diagnosis.
In fall 2013, she faced a new stage 0 diagnosis. She kept going and kept talking about it. Since 2006, she has co-hosted Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Chicago with a colleague.
She has said cancer is part of her life but does not define her. Her sister is also a breast cancer survivor.
Roz Varon’s Husband, Marriages and Family
Family details here need care, because many sites copy each other and make mistakes. One site names her husband as Glen Janz. That looks wrong. Janz is the family name of her first marriage.
| Person | What reliable sources say |
| Edward (Ed) Janz | Named as Sara’s father in her obituary |
| Glenn Kedzie | Reported by some biography sites as her husband since 2005 |
| Sara Beth Janz | Daughter, who died at age 29 |
I could not confirm Roz’s current marital status from a trusted source. Some sites say she is divorced. None of them show proof. It is fair to leave this open.
What Happened to Roz Varon’s Daughter?
Sara Beth Janz died at age 29 in New Mexico. Roz shared the news on social media in early 2025. She called Sara a joyful spirit and said she had been happy on her wedding day the year before.
Sara followed her mom into the TV Academy. She helped start the junior board of the NATAS Chicago/Midwest chapter. She also worked as a freelance photographer.
Roz started the Sara Janz Memorial Scholarship through the NATAS Chicago Foundation. It supports students in communications at Columbia College. A fundraiser at the Des Plaines Theatre later raised money for it.
Roz Varon’s Education and Book
Roz studied at Columbia College Chicago. She still stays involved with the school’s alumni network.
Her book, On the Road with Roz, came out in 2017. It collects photos and stories from Route 66 and trips around the world with her family. Part of the money went to breast cancer care and research at Rush University Medical Center.
What About Roz Varon’s Salary, Net Worth and Weight Loss?
Here’s what this really means. Nobody outside her family knows these numbers.
| Topic | Verdict |
| Salary | Never shared by ABC7 or Roz |
| Net worth | Sites say 5 million dollars, with no proof |
| Weight loss | No trusted report or comment from her |
Be careful with any page that lists exact figures. Without a named source, it is a guess.
Roz Varon’s Impact on Chicago Media
Roz showed that traffic belonged in morning news. Before her, drivers had mostly radio. She brought maps, live shots and clear advice to TV.
She also gave back. She served on the NATAS board for years and spoke often to cancer groups. Her work helped younger reporters, and her daughter carried that spirit forward.
FAQs About Roz Varon
How old is Roz Varon?
Most sources say she was born November 26, 1957, which makes her 68. ABC7 has not confirmed the year, so treat it as an estimate.
Is Roz Varon still on ABC7?
No. She retired on April 5, 2024, after 35 years. ABC7 did not say she would return on a regular basis.
Did Roz Varon have breast cancer?
Yes. She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2006. She later had a stage 0 diagnosis in 2013. She has spoken about both publicly.
Who is Roz Varon’s husband?
Some sites list Glenn Kedzie. Her daughter’s obituary names Edward Janz as Sara’s father. Her current marital status is not confirmed.
What is Roz Varon’s book called?
It is On the Road with Roz: Adventures in Travel and Life. It covers her travels on Route 66 and around the world.
Conclusion
Roz Varon’s age is the one fact fans want most, and it is the one fact nobody has proven. The best estimate is that she is 68, with a November 26 birthday.
Her career facts are solid. She joined ABC7 in 1989, led morning traffic for 35 years and retired in April 2024.
Her story also includes real hardship. She beat stage 4 cancer and lost her daughter.
When you read about her, trust sources like ABC7, local papers and the Chicago Emmy chapter. Check any big claim before you share it.
For more Chicago media profiles, see [Internal link: Chicago news anchors guide] and [Internal link: how TV traffic reporting began].
Resources
- ABC7 Chicago: Roz Varon to retire after 35 years
- ABC7 Chicago: Our Chicago retirement interview
- Wednesday Journal: ABC7’s Roz Varon opens up about life on the air
- NATAS Chicago/Midwest: 2022 Silver Circle honorees
- Roz Varon essay on her breast cancer diagnosis (JUF)
- Oak Park: Sara Beth Janz obituary
- Adweek TVSpy: Scholarship in memory of Sara Janz
- ABC7 Chicago: Roz Varon discusses her book
JACKSON is a content writer specializing in SEO-friendly celebrity biographies, profiles, and entertainment content, including in-depth articles about Jackson.