After the barrage of internal memos from WaPo brass last week for reporters and editors taking the buyout, now we have the emails from the journalists bidding their own farewells.

Some are short and sweet. Others are longer and well, sad. Many express gratitude and thankfulness to colleagues. One compares leaving WaPo to a “breakup.”

Marty Barrick writes, “It has been an honor to work with all of you. Thanks for the lovely send-off. I’ll close with a sample of one of my new ventures.” (The graphic he included is called “Ode Newspaper.”)

Terry Sapienza said simply: “It’s been an incredible and unmatchable 15 years. Thanks to everyone who played a part.  Terri” And Nathan Willis: “It’s been a wonderful eight years at The Post. I feel blessed to have worked with such intelligent, talented and dedicated people every day. And I’m not going far, so stay in touch!” And Lisa Frazier: “Thanks for 17 years full of great memories. With gratitude, Lisa”

Roger Newkirk‘s letter is maybe the saddest:
“It’s been a pleasure spending my entire work years here at the Post. I started here fresh outta high school while in college and pretty much never left. Just applying anywhere else is gonna feel weird, but at the end of the day life is about opportunities and I felt this was one I couldn’t let pass me by. It was probably the hardest decision of my life because of you, the staff. I care for you all like immediate family and would love for everyone to keep in touch. I’m on Facebook, my email is BLANK and cell is the same. All the best.”

And Ben de la Cruz went with semi-funny:

Subject: Breaking up

“#itsnotyouitsme Why does this feel like a breakup? There were tears and some heartfelt words. We made promises to remain friends. I meant it and hope you did, too.  I will miss your camaraderie and talent, but won’t be far away at NPR. Ben”

Avis Thomas-Lester went the longer route…

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WaPo‘s internal memos on reporters taking the buyout are starting to trickle in. When you see the number of years these journalists spent there, it’s downright depressing. Also a downer is the fact that “caking” is a verb at WaPo. FishbowlDC has obtained several of these memos. To be sure, the numbers are much larger than the memo count suggests.

Some journalists haven’t left yet. Some didn’t get farewell memos. Their choice? It’s tough to say. But whatever the case, all memos are glowing and some don’t bear a single mention of the buyout. Instead, they highlight the writer leaving the profession and moving on to any number of greener pastures. They mention an “infectious laugh” or a “stellar legacy” and a “quintessential jack of all trades.” More heaps of praise: “tireless energy,” or “amazing attitude” and a “fire in his soul.” The memos depict the departures in a Stepfordesque light, as if this wasn’t bad news.

This afternoon there’s cake for Jon DeNunzio, who has worked at WaPo for 17 years. His memo does mention the buyout, saying, “Please join us near the Engagement Desk and the News Hub at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to say farewell to Jon DeNunzio, interactivity editor. And, alas, buyout taker.”

Other departures with memos include the following: James Grimaldi (12 years, they’ll be “caking” for him later this afternoon and cocktailing with him tonight), Joanna Hernandez (moving on to be Director of Career Services at City University in New York), Nathan Willis (seven plus years, moving on to Motley Fool’s as an editor), Robert Pierre (19 years, has often been the “conscience” of the Post, moving on to be a consultant) David Hilzenrath (25 years, headed to Project on Government Oversight, a.k.a. POGO), and design employees Marty Barrick (27 years) and Tony Knott (12 years).

All memos in full after the jump…

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