Heartbroken colleagues are mourning the death of the CBS New York meteorologist Elise Finch who suddenly died over the weekend aged 51, just days after appearing on air.
Finch has been delivering the weather forecast for New York for 16 years, most recently last Friday – two days before WCBS announced her death.
The station said last night: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of our beloved Elise Dione Finch Henriques.
‘Elise was a gifted and consummate professional who took great care with her work. She was also a wonderful ambassador in the community, including her hometown of Mount Vernon.
‘Above all, Elise was a fiercely loving and devoted mother to her daughter Grace and wife to Graig Henriques, who is a photojournalist at WCBS.’
Elise Finch (pictured) suddenly died over the weekend aged 51, just days after appearing on air
Finch has been delivering the weather forecast for New York for 16 years, most recently last Friday (pictured) – two days before WCBS announced her death
The station said: ‘Above all, Elise was a fiercely loving and devoted mother to her daughter Grace (pictured above together) and wife to Graig Henriques’
She died at a local hospital, but her cause of death has not been determined.
Finch first started out as a weekend meteorologist in 2007 and was most recently on the morning news, delivering her latest forecast just last Friday afternoon.
Last night at 6.42pm, WCBS presenter and Jessica Moore visibly choked up as she announced the death of her colleague on air.
She echoed WCBS’ statement, adding she and her colleagues were ‘joining Graig and Grace in their grieving’.
The anchor also said: ‘There was no one like her. We’re all gonna miss her very much.’
On Twitter, Moore wrote: ‘Elise was fiercely loyal to those she loved, a straight shooter, a consummate professional, and made me laugh until I cried.
‘But above all she was completely devoted to her family, especially her daughter Grace. I love you so much, my friend. Heaven now has an angel like no other.’
Another WCBS anchor, Chris Wragge, tweeted: ‘My heart is broken. Our team will never be the same. No one matched musical wits better. I’ll miss you much.’
Finch was married to Graig Henriques, who is a photojournalist at WCBS, and they shared a daughter, Grace (Graig and Grace picture here)
She died at a local hospital, but her cause of death has not been determined (pictured here in 2012 at a gala in her home town of Mount Vernon, New York)
Elise Finch loved music. The song of her life deserved many more verses.
Her gifts were many, and so too the lives she touched.
My deepest condolences to Graig and little Grace, her parents and sister, and all our CBS2 family. pic.twitter.com/VASGsIrnEO— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) July 17, 2023
WCBS reporter Tony Aiello also remembered Finch for her love of music and said the ‘song of her life deserved many more verses’.
He added: ‘Her gifts were many, and so too the lives she touched. My deepest condolences to Graig and little Grace, her parents and sister, and all our CBS2 family.’
Finch’s colleagues and fans shared their condolences for her ‘beloved husband Graig (pictured here on their wedding day) and daughter Grace’ on social media
Finch often shared adorable pictures of her daughter on Twitter to raise awareness of her congenital heart defect, which was detected when Finch was 20 weeks pregnant
Steve Overmyer, a WCBS sports broadcaster, shared on Twitter: ‘Heartbroken today with the devastating news we lost our amazing friend and colleague Elise Finch. Her smile and positive energy always left a smile on everyone’s face.’
Ali Bauman, also a reporter for WCBS, said: ‘Heartbroken by the loss of our friend, colleague, and role model.’
Tracie Strahan, a reporter for WNBC-TV in New York, tweeted: ‘Sending so much love to those who knew and adored Elise Finch… our colleagues at @CBSNewYork & of course her beloved Graig & daughter Grace.’
‘Heartbroken to hear of the sudden passing of meteorologist, Elise Finch. 11 years ago I was a @CBSNewYork intern – I’ll never forget practicing stand-ups on a windy beach with Elise when she reported on disabled people learning to surf. Love to our CBS family,’ said Lauren Linder, reporter for KDKA in Pennsylvania.
Sue Guzman, anchor for Fox News, tweeted: ‘Rest in peace, Elise Finch. So talented. Such an awful loss. Prayers to her loved ones. Remembering our beloved colleague Elise Finch.’
Finch’s sudden death leaves her mourning husband Graig and daughter Grace (pictured together above)
Finch often shared adorable pictures of her daughter on Twitter to raise awareness of her congenital heart defect, which was detected when Finch was 20 weeks pregnant
BS New York anchor Alice Gainer (right) said: ‘I respected the hell out of Elise’s no-nonsense attitude, intellect, talent and fierce love for her family’
CBS New York anchor Alice Gainer said: ‘I respected the hell out of Elise’s no-nonsense attitude, intellect, talent and fierce love for her family.
‘We shared an office and would talk music (obvi Janet), work and most importantly about her beloved daughter Grace. Thinking of Graig, Grace & family.’
She also shared several photos of her and Finch in remembrance of her friend and colleague.
‘The @NABJ family is sending condolences to the friends, family and @WCBSTV colleagues of meteorologist Elise Finch. Our thoughts are with you at this time,’ said Dorothy Tucker, from the National Association of Black Journalists.
Fans of Finch also took to social media to share their heartache over her death, with one saying: ‘I have never met Elise in person, but her warm presence on the TV was personal and inspiring.
‘Her cheerful voice helped me and my husband always prepare for the day. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.’
She also shared several photos of her and Finch in remembrance of her friend and colleague
Another wrote: ‘This is CRAZY! I just learned Elise Finch just passed away. How sudden and unnerving. She did a weather set today. My condolences to her family and the CBS NY family. Wow.’
A third tweeted: ‘Just so sad and shocking. Always watched her weather reports and enjoyed her reporting on music, one of her joys. Condolences to her family and her colleagues, who obviously cared for her deeply.’
‘As loyal CBS NY viewers we are saddened to learn of Elise Finch’s passing. She brightened our day starting every morning. Our condolences to her loved ones & her CBS family. Elise will be sorely missed by so many,’ another fan posted.
More tributes included one viewer saying she loved ‘watching Elise Finch on CBS morning with Cindy with their genuine smiles and warm banter.’
Another said her late mother always enjoyed watching the meteorologist on TV, adding: ‘She (we) really loved you and I’ll never forget the way you made her feel. You are missed.’
NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams also expressed her condolences: ‘Elise served as CBS’ meteorologist for over a decade and graced thousands of households with her genius.
‘She will truly be missed. My prayers go to her family and friends.’
