Emmy Award-winning journalist and former New York news anchor Ernie Anastos has died at the age of 82. WABC station confirmed.
Anastos’ family confirmed his death to WABC, but no further details were released.
“He was a news legend, not just in New York, but throughout the tri-state. He was a news legend here at Channel 7 Eyewitness News. Tonight, we’re remembering him,” WABC anchor Bill Ritter said on the March 12 broadcast. “He was something unique and had nothing to do with politics.”
Ritter praised Anastos, a longtime friend and colleague, for being trusted by viewers, adding that Anastos believes in reporting the truth and facts. He shared a note Anastos sent him two weeks ago that read, “Hello Bill, I love you and please stay happy and healthy, Ernie.”
The former Eyewitness news anchor worked at the New York City station from 1978 to 1989, having previously worked at WWOR, CBS affiliate WCBS, and FOX affiliate WNYW. He also hosted the radio talk show “Positively Ernie” on WABC 770 AM.
what did you do Ernie Anastos cover?
His decades of coverage have included several historic events, from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has earned over 30 Emmy Awards and nominations, and also received the prestigious Lifetime Emmy Award.
Anastos It also covered the incident in which John Lennon was shot and killed while in front of the Beatles singer’s home just before the incident. Anastos It was later featured in the 2020 documentary “Witness to the Death of John Lennon.”
He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northeastern University and several honorary doctorates from New York Institute of Technology, Marist College, Manhattanville College, Curry College, and Sacred Heart University. The first news jobs he completed were in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, before covering the Big Apple.
Ernie Anastos On what being a newscaster means to him
WABC He shared an interview with Anastos, in which he talked about what being an anchor means to him and how much it means to someone to come up to him on the street.
“They’ll probably tell you about the comments that you would have said. It’s very personal. It’s like you can really understand that they were watching this. They didn’t just flip, they just passed by. They sat and paid attention to what you were saying. It’s very personal, Bill,” he told Ritter.
FOX affiliate WNYW released a statement expressing its “deep sadness” over Anastos’ death. “An Emmy Award-winning journalist and beloved former Fox 5 News anchor, his voice, integrity and lasting impact on New York journalism will never be forgotten.”
