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Katherine Creag was a WNBC reporter in New York City who died suddenly at the age of 47, her news channel said on Wednesday, February 11, 2021. She died unexpectedly Wednesday night, according to NBC New York. He has worked at WNBC since 2011.
Creag is survived by her husband, Bill Gafner, and their three young children. He was born in Manila, Philippines, and lived with his family in Manhattan. Most recently, he was on the ‘Today in New York’ morning news team on NBC New York. The news station has not said whether Creag’s cause of death is known.
“Kat was one of our cornerstones for ten years, always ready to help in any situation, be it a colleague in need or a shift that needed to be filled. She was thoughtful, funny, and ruthless. And even on the most difficult of days it was a bright, quick light with a kind word and a smile, ”said Amy Morris, WNBC vice president of news, in a statement on the channel’s website.
A graduate of New York University, Creag worked for several news outlets around the country and won 2 Emmy Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards
Creag’s first jobs were at NY1 and WNYW / Fox 5 in New York City, according to his biography on the WNBC website. He then worked at various news outlets around the country before making his way back to Manhattan. According to his biography, he worked at KDFW in Dallas, WSOC in Charlotte and WTVH in Syracuse.
Creag graduated from New York University and was the editor of Washington Square News student newspaper there, according to WNBC. She was the daughter of Valentino Creag of Warsaw, Indiana, and the late Cecila Creag, according to their marriage announcement in The New York Times.
The news station wrote in its biography, “Creag, a resident of Manila, Philippines, is fluent in Tagalog and represents NBC 4 hosting Philippine community events. Kat supports the American Cancer Society and the United Way. Creag enjoys spending time with her husband and family. Creag worked as a reporter on “Today in New York,” which airs from 4:30 am to 7:30 am and at noon.
According to NBC New York, “Creag has received two Emmy Awards, the Associated Press and Edward R. Murrow for his latest coverage. As part of the NBC4 team’s ongoing coverage of Hurricane Sandy, Creag won a 2014 National Emmy and Edward R. Murrow. “
Creag and her husband celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary in early 2021 and regularly posted photos of their 3 children.
According to a marriage announcement in The New York Times, Creag and her husband, Bill Gafner, were married on September 2, 2006 at the Roman Catholic Church of St Ignatius of Loyola in New York City. According to The Times, Gafner, who was born in Rome, New York and graduated from Cornell University, worked at a company that develops software for financial institutions.
Creag is also survived by her three young children, Jackson Danger Gafner, Gemma Darling Gafner and Josephine Dee Gafner. She often posted pictures and likes posts about her kids on Facebook.
Creag wrote a post on September 2, 2020 to celebrate their wedding anniversary: “We planned our wedding to coincide with my mother’s birthday. Now he would be 84 years old. We miss and love her very much. “
Tributes to Creag from colleagues and colleagues in the journalism world have reached social networks
I am absolutely devastated by the sudden death of Katherine Creag. She was my very first co-anchor with a professional TV channel when we both started in the company in Elmira, NY. She was a wonderful, funny, caring person. My thoughts go out to her family. pic.twitter.com/0tHcJvaDOW
– Jere Gish (@jeregishWGAL) February 11, 2021
Tribute to Creag comes from his colleagues at WNBC and others in New York City and the global journalism community. WGAL presenter Jere Gish tweeted, “I am absolutely devastated by the sudden passing of Katherine Creag. She was my first co-host on a professional television station when we both started in the industry in Elmira, NY. He was a wonderful, fun, and loving person. My thoughts are with his family.
John Chandler, WNBC Sports Presenter, tweeted: Kat Creag could make the worst day big, fun, and laughable. Well today is the worst day and we can all use it to hear her laugh again ”.
Maggie Kent, reportera de 6ABC and Filadelfia, tweeted: “The best of the best. Kat was never without a smile, boundless energy and an infectious laugh, even at 4am. She is who we should all be. Without a doubt he will go to heaven.”
Also WNBC reporter Myles Miller, tweeted: “Kat was the nicest person I have ever met in this industry. Her smile, her laugh and her tenacity made her truly unique. Every text message I sent her started with ‘Tita’, which means ‘aunt’ in Tagalog because she was family in my heart ”.
