WFSB News Anchor Denise D'Ascenzo Died Unexpectedly

BRANFORD, CT — Branford resident and beloved Channel 3 anchor Denise D'Ascenzo died Saturday, the station announced on Facebook.

"There are no words that can begin to summarize this loss. Please keep her family in your prayers at this time," the news station posted at around 8 p.m.

In a story on the station's website, it was noted that her death was "sudden and unexpected." Her family believes she suffered a "massive heart attack," WFSB says.

"The grief we are all feeling is immeasurable," the report reads. "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."

Her on-air co-anchor for 25 years, Dennis House, shared the news with viewers in a very emotional statement.

"On a personal note she was my sister, my tv wife, my best friend here and my co-anchor for 25 years," House said while becoming overcome with emotion.

'Hi, friends!'

Her social media posts often began with the friendly salutation. She had a presence on social media and many followers.

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 thirty years. 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," Lamont said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal called her a "dear friend."

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz described D’Ascenzo⁩ as "part of the fabric of Connecticut.”

"A trusted and respected journalist, she touched the lives of so many through her reporting. My thoughts are with her family, friends and ⁦@WFSBnews."

Senate Republican leader Len Fasano added: “Connecticut has lost a true treasure. Denise was a friend. I have had the honor of knowing her and her husband for many years. Anyone who ever had the honor of meeting her knows how immediately memorizing her kind, gentle and warm aura truly was.”

On her Facebook page, tributes are pouring in.

"Tonight my thoughts and prayers are with Denise family and friends as well as her Channel 3 News crew I'm in total shock I've watched her for the past 20 some odd years she will be missed by a lot may she rest in peace God bless you Denise," wrote Heather King.

Her Journalism Career Started When She Was 12

D'Ascenzo was a longtime, respected journalist. When just a girl, she created her own newspaper. According to her biography, she is an 11-time Emmy winner and was the longest-serving news anchor at a single television station in Connecticut.

She 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, DC sniper. She's 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. Denise 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, DC and grew up in suburban Rockville, Maryland, at 12, she launched the first newspaper at her grammar school. 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.

She worked in St. Louis as a reporter and talk show host at KSDK-TV. But the city that launched her career was Syracuse, New York. She landed her first television job at WIXT-TV in Syracuse, doing the nightly weather forecast while she finished her senior year at Syracuse University. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude with dual degrees in broadcast journalism and political science, Denise was hired full time as a reporter and weathercaster.

She left her post as anchor of the news at WJKW in Cleveland to marry Wayne Cooke and move to Connecticut. They are parents of daughter Kathryn.

Lamont said in a statement, "The work journalists provide is a vital public service, and through her career, Denise dedicated herself to the people of Connecticut. The news of her passing is incredibly saddening, and I extend my deepest condolences to Denise’s family, friends, and colleagues at WFSB. She is undoubtedly a Connecticut news legend."