Local News Broadcaster Breaks Down On-Air She Announces Her 'Beloved' Co-Anchor's Death
The sudden passing of Arizona news anchor Ana Orsini last week left her colleagues and audience grieving a profound loss.
Ana Orsini, a beloved anchor for KOLD-TV, a CBS affiliate in Tucson, Arizona, was just 28 years old. She tragically passed away due to a brain aneurysm, as confirmed by her morning anchor colleague Tyler Butler in a heartfelt Facebook post on Tuesday.
“It’s so horrible, so sudden,” Butler wrote. “Ana was a force of nature. I keep thinking about how, at times, I’d make a self-deprecating joke, and she’d snap, ‘Hey! Don’t talk about my friend like that!’”
He added, “Her genuine care for everyone around her will be missed.”
Orsini’s co-anchor Carsyn Currier struggled to hold back tears as she announced her friend’s death during a broadcast on Monday. In an emotional Instagram post, Currier described Orsini as “one of my best friends.”
Last week, we lost a beloved member of our KOLD news team. Ana Orsini was our anchor, a leader of the morning team, and most importantly a great friend to so many at the station. I had the pleasure of working with her during the morning, even though it was for too short of a… pic.twitter.com/oau04UsS9h
— Cory Kowitz (@cory_kowitz) December 16, 2024
“Waking up in the middle of the night to go to work is always challenging, but knowing I was going to work with Ana made it that much easier,” Currier shared. “Whether she was dancing around the set or making us all laugh, every day with Ana was an adventure.”
The station’s website shared a touching tribute, stating, “Ana had been at 13 News since June 2023, and we are devastated by her unexpected passing.”
The tribute highlighted her remarkable qualities, saying she had “bottomless empathy” and was renowned for standing up for “the little guy.” It also praised her mentorship and kindness, noting that she was “a smiling face, especially for all her newest and youngest coworkers” and “took them under her wing both at work and in life.”
Orsini’s passion for rescue animals was also celebrated. “If she wasn’t celebrating Fur Baby Friday, she’d be trying to find a new home for a cutie in need,” the tribute read.
The post lovingly described her vibrant personality: “She was a peanut-butter-M&M-loving, platform-Ugg-wearing, pink-or-purple-Stanley-toting ray of sunshine, even at 4:00 in the morning.”
Ana Orsini’s unexpected passing has left a void in the lives of her colleagues, friends, and viewers. Her genuine care, mentorship, and radiant spirit will not be forgotten.