Ernie Anastos, who was known to TV viewers in the New York area for his many years of anchoring the news on WABC-TV, WCBS-TV, WWOR-TV and WNYW Channel 5, has died at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco at age 82. Anastos, who lived in Armonk, died March 12 as a result of pneumonia, according to his wife Kelly.
Anastos worked in the New York media market for more than 40 years. He was a member of the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, which noted that he won 28 Emmy Awards and nominations as well as a Lifetime Emmy Award in addition to an Edward R. Murrow Award for writing.
Anastos was a parishioner at the Holly Trinity Church in New Rochelle and a Sunday School teacher there. His paternal grandfather was a Greek Orthodox priest. Anastos was born in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Anastos was a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston and went to work for radio stations in that city before moving into television in Providence, Rhode Island. WABC-TV in New York followed, where he served as a news anchor for 11 years. He then moved to WCBS-TV, followed by WWOR-TV and then went back to WCBS. In 2005, he began anchoring at WNYW Channel 5 where he remained until 2019.
During his career, he covered numerous major stories ranging from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the Colvid-19 pandemic.
In his later years, Anastos appeared on WABC Radio, was on a syndicated TV program and wrote a series of children’s books with proceeds benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Former New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio declared March 21, 2017, to be “Ernie Anastos Day in New York” and hosted a reception for Anastos.
In addition to his wife, Anastos is survived by two children and four grandchildren and a sister. The family asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle.
