Gayle King, Mika Brzezinski Remember Denise D'Ascenzo In Tributes

BRANFORD, CT — "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King paid tribute on air to her former colleague, Denise D'Ascenzo, in touching remarks Monday morning. King worked for 18 years as a television news anchor for WFSB 3 TV.

"This has never happened to me before where someone I worked with died unexpectedly, so I'm still sort of reeling from that," King said. "Our Hartford affiliate also understands what we mean, at WFSB being flooded with condolence messages from viewers after the sudden loss of longtime news anchor Denise D'Ascenzo."

Branford resident and beloved Channel 3 anchor D'Ascenzo died of what her family said was a "massive heart attack" Saturday, according to WFSB. She was 61.

"I worked with Denise D'Ascenzo for many years. She was there for 33 years, I was there for 18. Her colleagues are grief stricken," King said.

King also shared details of her conversation Sunday with D'Ascenzo's husband, Wayne Cooke, and daughter Kathryn, who described what happened.

"This is the thing, guys — it's one of those things that's so shocking when you hear the news, because Denise at 61 was in great shape, she was in great health, and I talked to her husband and her daughter yesterday who says she felt a little indigestion in the morning, she took some Tums, went upstairs to go to bed and take a little nap … he checked on her four hours later and she was dead. It was that shocking," King said on the Monday broadcast.

"We're all still sort of reeling about this. I talked to many people over the weekend. I saw Jon LaPook at a dinner party last night, and he said one of the most important things we can do is to say to people, 'I was thinking about you,' something we never do because we so take it for granted."

King described D'Ascenzo as a news legend: "When I say that this woman was kind and smart and talented, I can't emphasize it enough."

WFSB 3 TV anchor and D'Ascenzo's partner for 25 years, Dennis House, announced the news in an emotional statement Saturday night.

"There are no words that can begin to summarize this loss .... The grief we are all feeling is immeasurable. We are devastated for her husband and daughter, who were her whole life. There are no words that could begin to summarize this loss for our WFSB family."

"On a personal note, she was my sister, my TV wife, my best friend here and my co-anchor for 25 years," House added.

King said she was in California visiting her son when she got the news.

"He called me yesterday to say how are you doing," and told her, "'I'm still bummed about it' because he remembers her as a little boy."

King and her co-hosts, Tony Dokoupil and Anthony Mason, reflected on the tenuousness of life.

"It's very upsetting when you get this kind of news," King said. "It's just another reminder to us about how we live our lives and about how important your health is. She really was one of a kind in the best way."

Dokoupil noted, "Our time here is precious."

And Mason said that D'Ascenzo "spent 33 years at the station and still seemed so young."

King talked about D'Ascenzo's relationship with viewers, and they with her.

"When you are a local news anchor, you are a big deal," King said. "When you've been there a long time, you are beloved, admired and respected."

King recalled when D'Ascenzo's daughter "Kathryn was born … I was talking to Kathryn yesterday, her husband Wayne, I just … I can't get over it. I know it's all part of life. It's still very stunning to me today, so I'm thinking about Denise and Kathryn and Wayne today and, of course, my friends at Channel 3."

Also Monday, Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski shared a moving tribute to her former colleague. Brzezinski called the beloved journalist a "friend and mentor."

On her Instagram page, Brzezinski wrote: "Denise was the most reassuring, kind, and authentic person I ever met in my life. We will miss you so much. She was always there. When my first child was born, she reported the birth in the most genuine and loving way. It made us all feel special. Denise was also there for her friends all across Connecticut and should have been bringing the news to homes across the state for so much longer. Denise, we love you and will miss you terribly."

"I am heartbroken and at a loss. Denise D'Ascenzo was more than a longtime friend. She was a role model to everyone in the newsroom. She was always there with a kind word and set an example for all of us who worked with her at Channel 3. Joe and I are thinking and praying for her husband and daughter right now, and our good friend, Dennis House. What an incredible partnership Dennis and Denise shared on air for 25 years. Viewers across Connecticut will feel this terrible loss as well."

Gov. Ned Lamont described her as a "Connecticut news legend."

“As the longest-serving news anchor at a single television station in Connecticut, Denise D’Ascenzo has entered millions of homes in our state for more than 30 years," Lamont said. "Through her dedicated work and dependable reporting, she earned the distinction of being a trusted name in journalism, and her reporting most certainly made an impact."

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal called her a "dear friend." And U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said he was heartbroken.

D'Ascenzo began at WFSB-TV in 1986. She covered local and national news including the 1988 Republican National Convention, the U.S. visit of Pope John Paul the II, the crash of United flight 232 and the arrest of the Washington, D.C., sniper. She interviewed Paul Newman, Bob Hope, Tony Bennett and Oprah Winfrey. Her passion, her bio reads, was health and medical reporting: "She has taken viewers inside operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, neonatal intensive care units, as well as onboard Life Star, the critical care helicopter service. Denise has long been a leading voice across Connecticut in raising greater awareness of such conditions as breast cancer, heart disease, obesity and disease prevention."

She's been honored with two Edward R. Murrow awards, seven Associated Press awards, and a national Gabriel Award. In 2013, Denise was elected to the Silver Circle, a prestigious honor bestowed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for significant contributions to broadcasting. Two years later, she became the first woman to be inducted into the Connecticut Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Quinnipiac University.

She has also been recognized for her work with a number of charities including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Mary's Place and the Channel 3 Kids Camp.

Born in Washington, D.C., and growing up in suburban Rockville, Maryland, she launched the first newspaper at her grammar school at age 12. She went on to become editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper and the first person to receive a scholarship from the American Newspaper Women's Club to attend a summer journalism program at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.