A wake for Big Apple news anchor Ernie Anastos attracted hundreds of mourners who paid their respects on Monday for the “well-grounded and lovable” industry legend.
Crowds poured in and out of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle for Anastos, a beloved Emmy Award-winning journalist who anchored at several flagship stations across the city, CBS New York reported.
The well-known TV anchor died early Thursday of pneumonia at Northern Westchester Hospital at age 82, his wife said, according to CBS 2.
His storied on-air career spanned decades, earning him 30 Emmy Awards and nominations as he covered notable events like the 9/11 terror attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proud Greek-American known as “Positively Ernie” was described by loved ones at the wake as a “well-grounded and lovable” fixture at various New York television networks, such as ABC7, CBS2, and Fox 5 NY.
“If there was a Mount Rushmore for news anchors in New York, Ernie would be one of the four faces,” CBS News New York northern suburbs reporter Tony Aiello told CBS New York.
“He had a smile on his face always. He was tired of bad news, and he would only want to do good news,” businessman John Catsimatidis added. “He was 82 years old, but he didn’t look a day over 62. Everybody loved him.”
The devoted father, brother, and husband who was proud had a second home at the Holy Trinity church, Dino Yotides, vice president of the church’s parish council, told the outlet.
“Just a well-grounded and lovable person. Positively Ernie was Ernie for us here at Holy Trinity,” Yotides said of Anastos.
“The man you saw on TV, the loving, caring Ernie, is the man who he truly was. For us here at Holy Trinity, he was a parishioner, our friend, and a brother to all of us,” he added.
Anastos’ funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Tuesday morning.
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