{{Short description|Belgian television presenter (1958–2020)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Gerty Christoffels | image = Gerty_Christoffels.png | caption = | birth_name = Gerty Maria Christoffels | birth_date = {{birth date|1958|09|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Eigenbilzen]], [[Belgium]] | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|12|1958|09|10|df=yes}} | death_place = [[Antwerp]], Belgium | occupation = Television presenter | known_for = ''De drie wijzen'' | spouse = | children = | signature = | website = }} '''Gerty Maria Christoffels''' (10 September 1958 – 12 October 2020) was a [[Belgium|Belgian]] television presenter known for ''De drie wijzen'' and ''Het ei van Christoffels''.<ref name="nws">{{cite news|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2020/10/14/tv-gezicht-gerty-christoffels-is-overleden/|title=Tv-gezicht Gerty Christoffels (62) overleden: haar carrière in beeld, van "Boeketje Vlaanderen" tot "Drie wijzen"|website=[[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie]]|access-date=14 October 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
==Biography== Gerty Christoffels was born on 10 September 1958 in [[Eigenbilzen]].<ref name="atv" /> She was a high school teacher by profession, and taught Dutch, English, and religion at various schools.<ref name="standaard">{{cite news|url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20201014_93882977|title=Presentatrice Gerty Christoffels (62) overleden|website=De Standaard|access-date=14 October 2020|language=nl}}</ref> In 1984, she started work at [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|BRT]], the [[Flanders|Flemish]] public broadcaster, and presented ''Boeketje Vlaanderen'', a weekly tourist program.<ref name="nws" /> In 1987, Christoffels presented ''Belgium Today'', a monthly television program to promote Belgium which was distributed to 50 American broadcasters.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://dbnl.nl/tekst/_nee003198701_01/_nee003198701_01_0135.php|title=Belgium today|website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature|access-date=14 October 2020|series=Neerlandia|year=1987|language=nl}}</ref> Between 1989 and 1991, she presented ''Het ei van Christoffels'', a weekend magazine featuring regional reports.<ref name="nws" />
In 1989,<ref name="lier">{{cite web|url=https://www.lierbelicht.be/content/%E2%80%98drie-grijzen%E2%80%99-blikken-terug-op-%E2%80%98drie-wijzen%E2%80%99|title='DRIE GRIJZEN' BLIKKEN TERUG OP 'DRIE WIJZEN'|website=Lier Berlicht|access-date=14 October 2020|language=nl}}</ref> Christoffels became a panel member on the humoristic television program ''De drie wijzen'' and stayed on the show for more than ten years.<ref name="nws" /> ''De drie wijzen'' became one of the most watched programs on Flemish television.<ref name="lier" />
In 1995, Christoffels switched to the commercial broadcaster [[VTM (TV channel)|VTM]] for which she presented ''Wie van de drie?'' and ''Gerty'' among others. In 2006, she retired,<ref name="standaard" /> and started her own communication company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nl.metrotime.be/2020/10/14/must-read/presentatrice-gerty-christoffels-overleden-op-62-jarige-leeftijd/|title=Presentatrice Gerty Christoffels overleden op 62-jarige leeftijd|website=Metro Time.be|access-date=14 October 2020|language=nl}}</ref> In 2010, Christoffels published her autobiography, ''De helft van mijn leven'' in which she also dealt with the difficulties of starting a career outside of television.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.libelle.be/vrije-tijd/interview-gerty-christoffels/ |title=Interview Gerty Christoffels|website=Libelle|access-date=18 October 2020|language=nl}}</ref> In 2017, she returned to ''De Drie Wijzen'' for a special edition about cancer. In 2018, she was diagnosed with lung cancer.<ref name="nws" />
Christoffels died on 12 October 2020, aged 62<ref name="nws" /> in [[Antwerp]].<ref name="atv">{{cite news|url=https://atv.be/nieuws/online-rouwregister-voor-gerty-christoffels|title=Online-rouwregister voor Gerty Christoffels|website=ATV.be|access-date=15 October 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Christoffels, Gerty}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:2020 deaths]] [[Category:People from Bilzen]] [[Category:Flemish television presenters]] [[Category:20th-century Belgian educators]] [[Category:Belgian women educators]] [[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Belgium]] [[Category:20th-century Belgian women educators]] {{Belgium-bio-stub}}