Friend and colleague Darlene Rodriguez recalled WNBC reporter Katherine Creag as “an extraordinary person” on Friday, two days after Creag’s sudden death at the age of 47 after 10 years with NBC’s New York affiliate.
Creag was a much-loved fixture on WNBC’s “Today in New York” morning show, known for her kindness and abundant energy.
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“She was an extraordinary reporter as you all know, and the viewers know, but she was an extraordinary person,” Rodriguez, co-anchor of Today in New York, said on TODAY Friday. “As a mother on this (morning) shift, I admired her and was in awe of her because she had three kids and she was everything that could be a great mom.”
The Emmy-winning reporter was born in Manila and was affectionately known as “Kat” by her friends and colleagues. She covered everything from Super Bowl parades and extreme weather to tragedies and breaking news.
“Cat was a fire,” Rodriguez said. “She had a very special spirit and energy about her. She came into your space, you were just thrilled because no matter what happened, she was always in a good mood.”
Creag is survived by her 14-year-old husband, Bill Gafner, and children Jack, Gemma and Josie.
“She was that mom I think we all love, where she sits in class and she does all the things the stay-at-home moms do because she was just that super mom who was very present and involved in every aspect of their life, “Rodriguez said.” She never sweated about those little things, and I think we appreciated that as a mother and as a working mother. She was always happy. “
The boundless energy and joy she radiated on the camera did not change when the cameras went off.
“She was as you see,” said Rodriguez. “That smile was huge, and she loved hanging out. We didn’t think she was really human sometimes. She was able to go to a party on a Tuesday night and still come to work and do a great job. do it in front of camera and tell the story with that human touch and that compassion.
“She was a great friend to everyone, and she really made everyone feel like you were special to her.”
Many of her colleagues shared their memories of her on Twitter on Thursday. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.
“Kat was the most dignified person I’ve ever met in this business,” her buddy WNBC reporter Myles Miller wroteHer smile, her laugh and her tenacity really made her unique. Every text I sent her started with ‘Tita’, which is Tagalog for ‘aunt’ because she was family in my heart. ‘
Her workdays started at 3am and occasionally include reports for TODAY. She also enjoyed watching concerts in the square at Rockefeller Center with Rodriguez.
“Kat taught me how to have more fun, how to enjoy life,” friend and colleague Tracie Strahan said TODAY. “I don’t know how to convey how loved this woman was and how loving she was to so many people.”