David Diaz, award-winning television reporter for NBC and CBS in NYC, dies at 82
Diaz brought coverage of major events, such as the Oklahoma City bombing, O.J. Simpson trial and 9/11attacks, into the homes of countless New Yorkers. Credit: The Diaz Family
David Diaz, an award-winning television reporter for NBC and CBS for nearly three decades who brought coverage of such events as the Oklahoma City bombing, the O.J. Simpson trial and the World Trade Center terror attacks into the homes of countless New Yorkers, has died at 82.
Diaz died March 12. He had been suffering with frontotemporal dementia, according to Andrea Garcia-Diaz, 53, of Little Neck, Queens, his wife of 30 years.
"We were blessed," she told Newsday on Tuesday. "We truly had an incredible love story together."
The groundbreaking newsman was born in Puerto Rico in 1942, the only child of David and Teodora Diaz, who separated shortly after his birth. Diaz was raised primarily by his mother and the pair moved to Manhattan's Washington Heights when he was 3 years old, his wife said.
David Diaz received degrees from Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx and City College in Manhattan before earning a master's in journalism at Columbia University. He later spent nearly a decade teaching mass media and politics and journalism at CCNY.
Diaz worked for a time as an activist and print reporter before he was hired by NBC 4, where he would spend 15 years. He later spent a dozen years at CBS 2 before retiring in 2015, the network said.
During his career, Diaz became the first Hispanic anchor for a major New York television organization, at NBC, and received five Emmy Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards and an Associated Press Award.
The broadcaster was ever-present at virtually every major news event in the city, from Bernie Goetz shooting four youths on a city subway train to the Tawana Brawley rape hoax case to every city mayoral administration from Ed Koch to Michael Bloomberg and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
He also covered national and international stories, including the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 167 people, the O.J. Simpson and Martha Stewart criminal trials and the custody battle between Woody Allen and Mia Farrow.
"He was such a mentor," CBS News New York anchor and reporter Cindy Hsu said during an on-air tribute Monday. "He was a mentor from when I first met him in1993 and then after he left Channel 2, which was a huge loss to journalism in general. Then he wanted to keep helping, so he teaches. I miss him. I know it's a big hole in so many people's lives."
Chuck Scarborough, a longtime WNBC/4 anchor who retired in December, said in a statement: "David and I worked together for 15 years. He was a superb, thoroughly dedicated broadcast journalist and delightful friend. David’s passion for our profession, effortless charm and dangerous sense of humor inspired all of us."
In 2008, Diaz told the Daily News that he was suffering from a number of health problems, including sinus issues and headaches, stemming from his time reporting from Ground Zero.
"Here at CBS News New York, we were lucky that he shared his remarkable abilities, generous spirit and infectious smile with us and our viewers," the station said in a statement.
An NBC spokesman said: "David Diaz’s career as a reporter, anchor and educator was impactful and made a difference. All of us at WNBC were saddened to learn of David’s passing and we are thinking of his family during this difficult time."
Diaz had two children from a previous marriage: Nina Diaz, 57, of West Hollywood, California, and Elena Diaz, 47, of New York City.
Nina Diaz works as chief creative officer and president of content at Showtime/MTV studios & Paramount Media Networks.
"He would say his two greatest achievements were his daughters," Andrea Diaz said of her husband. "They are humble. They're successful. They're kind. They are loving and loyal. And David had those same traits. He was a true gentleman. He was loyal. He championed for civil rights and the rights of minorities. And he was exceptionally proud of his Latin culture."
In addition to his wife and daughters, Diaz is survived by a son-in-law, Jonathan Miller, 55.
The family is planning a private "celebration of life" service for Diaz at a future date.
David Diaz, an award-winning television reporter for NBC and CBS for nearly three decades who brought coverage of such events as the Oklahoma City bombing, the O.J. Simpson trial and the World Trade Center terror attacks into the homes of countless New Yorkers, has died at 82.
Diaz died March 12. He had been suffering with frontotemporal dementia, according to Andrea Garcia-Diaz, 53, of Little Neck, Queens, his wife of 30 years.
"We were blessed," she told Newsday on Tuesday. "We truly had an incredible love story together."
The groundbreaking newsman was born in Puerto Rico in 1942, the only child of David and Teodora Diaz, who separated shortly after his birth. Diaz was raised primarily by his mother and the pair moved to Manhattan's Washington Heights when he was 3 years old, his wife said.
David Diaz received degrees from Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx and City College in Manhattan before earning a master's in journalism at Columbia University. He later spent nearly a decade teaching mass media and politics and journalism at CCNY.
Diaz worked for a time as an activist and print reporter before he was hired by NBC 4, where he would spend 15 years. He later spent a dozen years at CBS 2 before retiring in 2015, the network said.
During his career, Diaz became the first Hispanic anchor for a major New York television organization, at NBC, and received five Emmy Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards and an Associated Press Award.
The broadcaster was ever-present at virtually every major news event in the city, from Bernie Goetz shooting four youths on a city subway train to the Tawana Brawley rape hoax case to every city mayoral administration from Ed Koch to Michael Bloomberg and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
He also covered national and international stories, including the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 167 people, the O.J. Simpson and Martha Stewart criminal trials and the custody battle between Woody Allen and Mia Farrow.
"He was such a mentor," CBS News New York anchor and reporter Cindy Hsu said during an on-air tribute Monday. "He was a mentor from when I first met him in1993 and then after he left Channel 2, which was a huge loss to journalism in general. Then he wanted to keep helping, so he teaches. I miss him. I know it's a big hole in so many people's lives."
Chuck Scarborough, a longtime WNBC/4 anchor who retired in December, said in a statement: "David and I worked together for 15 years. He was a superb, thoroughly dedicated broadcast journalist and delightful friend. David’s passion for our profession, effortless charm and dangerous sense of humor inspired all of us."
In 2008, Diaz told the Daily News that he was suffering from a number of health problems, including sinus issues and headaches, stemming from his time reporting from Ground Zero.
"Here at CBS News New York, we were lucky that he shared his remarkable abilities, generous spirit and infectious smile with us and our viewers," the station said in a statement.
An NBC spokesman said: "David Diaz’s career as a reporter, anchor and educator was impactful and made a difference. All of us at WNBC were saddened to learn of David’s passing and we are thinking of his family during this difficult time."
Diaz had two children from a previous marriage: Nina Diaz, 57, of West Hollywood, California, and Elena Diaz, 47, of New York City.
Nina Diaz works as chief creative officer and president of content at Showtime/MTV studios & Paramount Media Networks.
"He would say his two greatest achievements were his daughters," Andrea Diaz said of her husband. "They are humble. They're successful. They're kind. They are loving and loyal. And David had those same traits. He was a true gentleman. He was loyal. He championed for civil rights and the rights of minorities. And he was exceptionally proud of his Latin culture."
In addition to his wife and daughters, Diaz is survived by a son-in-law, Jonathan Miller, 55.
The family is planning a private "celebration of life" service for Diaz at a future date.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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