Honoring the life and legacy of Ernie Anastos, in acknowledgment of his enduring contributions to broadcast journalism, public service, and the cultural enrichment of the State of New York

Senate Resolution No. 1906

BY: Senator GOUNARDES

        HONORING  the life and legacy of Ernie Anastos, in
        acknowledgment  of  his  enduring  contributions  to
        broadcast   journalism,   public  service,  and  the
        cultural enrichment of the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
honor  individuals  whose  dedication to journalism, public service, and
community enrichment have profoundly shaped the civic and cultural  life
of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Ernie  Anastos  was  a  distinguished  Emmy  Award-winning
television news anchor, talk show host,  children's  author,  and  media
entrepreneur whose career spanning five decades made him one of the most
recognized and trusted voices in New York broadcasting; and

  WHEREAS,  Born  in  Nashua,  New  Hampshire, on July 12, 1943, Ernie
Anastos earned a Bachelor of Arts degree  from  Northeastern  University
and  completed  advanced  studies at Harvard Business School, laying the
foundation   for   a   career   defined   by   intellectual   curiosity,
professionalism,   and   an   unwavering   commitment   to  journalistic
excellence; and

  WHEREAS, After beginning his broadcasting career in Boston radio and
television in Providence, Rhode Island, Ernie Anastos joined WABC-TV  in
New  York  City  in  1978,  and over the course of his remarkable career
anchored the evening news at four flagship network stations, earning the
distinction from The New York Times as "the ubiquitous anchorman"; and

  WHEREAS,  Throughout  his   career,   Ernie   Anastos   demonstrated
extraordinary  journalistic courage and dedication, covering some of the
most consequential events of our time, including the September 11, 2001,
attacks on the World Trade Center and the COVID-19  pandemic,  providing
steady,  trusted reporting to millions of New Yorkers during their hours
of greatest need; and

  WHEREAS, Ernie Anastos brought the  world  into  the  homes  of  New
Yorkers   through   his  distinguished  interviews  with  United  States
Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush,  and  Bill  Clinton,  Soviet
President  Mikhail Gorbachev, and South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, and
through his reporting from Cuba under Fidel Castro; and

  WHEREAS, A Hall of Fame Broadcaster,  Ernie  Anastos  received  more
than  30  Emmy  Awards  and  nominations, including recognition for Best
Newscast in New York and  the  Edward  R.  Murrow  Award  for  broadcast
excellence,  as  well as honorary doctorate degrees from Marist College,
Sacred  Heart  University,  New  York  Institute  of   Technology,   and
Manhattanville College; and

  WHEREAS,  Beyond  the  anchor desk, Ernie Anastos devoted himself to
uplifting his community through  his  nationally  syndicated  television
show  Positively  America, his talk show Positively Ernie on WABC Radio,
his authorship of career and educational books for  young  readers,  and

his  launch  of an Internet youth channel, reflecting his deep belief in
the power of positive storytelling; and

  WHEREAS,  Ernie  Anastos  was  further  distinguished  as  the first
Greek-American television news anchor in  the  United  States,  a  proud
heritage  rooted in his family's history, and was honored with the Ellis
Island Medal of Honor, the  New  Yorker  of  the  Year  Award  from  the
Manhattan  Chamber of Commerce, and a National Father of the Year Award;
and

  WHEREAS, In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, New York
City Mayor Bill de Blasio designated March 21 as Ernie  Anastos  Day  in
2017, a testament to the profound impact he made upon the City and State
of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Ernie Anastos died on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the age
of  82,  leaving  behind  a  legacy  of  journalistic  integrity,  civic
generosity,  and  an  enduring  commitment  to  the  betterment  of  the
communities he served; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  the  life  and  legacy of Ernie Anastos, in acknowledgment of his
enduring contributions to broadcast journalism, public service, and  the
cultural enrichment of the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Ernie Anastos as a testament to the lasting
impact of his life and work upon the State of New York and beyond.