CBS New York Meteorologist Elise Finch Dies at 51

WCBS 2 Meteorologist Elise Finch attends the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon 100th Anniversary Gala at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye Brook, N.Y., on March 24, 2012. Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images

Elise Finch, an Emmy-award-winning CBS New York meteorologist, has died aged 51, the station announced Sunday.

Ms. Finch died at a local hospital and her cause of death has yet to be determined, CBS News said in a statement expressing their “profound sadness” at the news.

“Elise was on the air with us just this past Friday,” CBS host Mary Calvi said. “Her death is sudden and unexpected, leaving us all trying to understand how this could happen to our beautiful Elise, who was just 51 years old.”

The station described her as a “gifted and consummate professional who took great care with her work,” “a wonderful ambassador in the community,” and above all, a “fiercely loving and devoted” mother to her daughter Grace and wife to WCBS photojournalist, Graig Henriques.

Following her passing, colleagues shared their emotional tributes on social media in remembrance.

“Elise was fiercely loyal to those she loved, a straight shooter, a consummate professional, and made me laugh until I cried,” WCBS anchor Jessica Moore posted on Twitter. “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.”

“My heart is broken. Our team will never be the same. No one matched musical wits better. I’ll miss you much,” posted anchor Chris Wragge.

“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,” reporter Tony Aiello added.

Ms. Finch joined CBS New York in 2007 as a weekend meteorologist where she most frequently appeared on the morning news with co-anchors Mary Calvi and Chris Wragge.

Before working at CBS, she served as a meteorologist for NBC’s “Early Today Show,” NBC Weather Plus, and MSNBC. She had also worked in Arizona, Ohio, and Minnesota for CBS, ABC, and FOX affiliates.

Ms. Finch grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and graduated from Mount Vernon High School. She completed her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University and earned her master of science degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University. She has also completed the broadcast meteorology program at Mississippi State University and has the American Meteorological Society’s seal of approval.

From NTD News