The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that former staff reporter and freelance writer Diane Powell-Larché has died due to complications from pancreatic cancer. She was 65. Her date of death was Friday, Jan.12.
A Philadelphia native, Powell-Larché came to Pittsburgh originally to attend the University of Pittsburgh. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science. She was a reporter for the Courier during a period in the 1980s and also did public relations duties for the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission.
She later moved to Atlanta, where she made her mark in journalism and public relations as President and CEO of Larche’ Communications Inc.
News of her death resonated across many in the Atlanta community, including The National Council of Negro Women Inc. Television station FOX 5 in Atlanta described Powell-Larché as “well known across Atlanta and beyond for her decades worth of contributions to the world of public relations, advertising and marketing. She was considered a media mastermind and played an integral role in Atlanta entertainment and business.”
While in Atlanta, in recent years Powell-Larché would contribute to the Courier by reporting on Pitt football games that occurred in the Southeast, or Steelers games that involved the Atlanta Falcons. She most recently covered Pitt’s ACC Championship victory in 2021 over Wake Forest in Charlotte, N.C.
“Diane was everything, everywhere all at once,” said Roz Edward, Atlanta Tribune editor. The Atlanta Tribune is part of Real Times Media, which owns the New Pittsburgh Courier. “She was great at making sure that we in the media got access to the people and events that were important to us. I will miss her greatly.”
Over the years, Powell-Larché’s client list included HBO, former NBA player Jason Terry, vocalist Jaheim, syndicated columnist Dr. Julianne Malveaux, and actress Krysten Leigh Jones. Larché Communications was also the event management firm for Real Men Cook for Charity Atlanta, a food tasting charity event held in 11 cities on Father’s Day.
Powell-Larché was a founder and former board member of the National Association of Black Journalists Pittsburgh Chapter, member of the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, Public Relations Society of America, Atlanta Sports Council, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Press Club, Junior League of Atlanta Inc., and Atlanta Commission on Women.
Powell-Larché was the 1998 Big Sister of the Year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and was named the Georgia Woman of the Year by Quaker Oats and the National Council of Negro Women in 1998. She was a Woman of the Year finalist for the Atlanta Business League in 2001.
Larché’s sorority sisters held a memorial service for her on Thursday. The funeral was on Friday.
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