Popular CT News Anchor To Return Airwaves 'Very Soon'

Mark Zinni, an evening news anchor at WFSB-TV for the past 11 years, has been off-air for the past several weeks, and in a Facebook post, he hinted at where he's been.

Zinni has been "away from work to reset and focus on my well-being," he wrote, adding that he plans on returning to the anchor chair soon.

"The past few months weren’t easy, but they were necessary," Zinni wrote. "With the help of others, I’ve learned a lot about resilience, boundaries, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.

"I’m especially grateful for my husband, my family, friends, and colleagues who supported me through this time. I heard from so many people, including current and former coworkers and former bosses who were incredible. The encouragement meant more than they know."

Zinni has had a long, illustrious career in television news, with stints at WJW in Cleveland, Ohio; WPRI in Providence, Rhode Island; WICU in Erie, Pennsylvania; and WTOV in Steubenville, Ohio, according to his bio.

He is an Ohio native, who graduated from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School and St. Bonaventure University.

At WFSB, He has been the co-anchor of Eyewitness News at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. with Erin Connolly, but his time away generated much speculation in social media circles.

Well-wishes poured in from fans and colleagues, generating about 2,000 comments on Facebook.

"Glad to hear you're doing much better," one fan wrote. "Sometimes we need to reset our life by reflecting on priorities, identifying our core values, removing non-essential habits then creating a new plan by setting specific goals, simplifying your routines, and taking consistent, actionable steps to align your daily life with your desired future. Looking forward to your return."

Another fan added, "So happy to hear you took time to focus on yourself. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Happy Birthday!! Miss seeing you with Erin on TV."

Zinni turned 50 years old this month, and he thanked fans for their support.

"And finally, a very special thank you to all the viewers who reached out — it has been overwhelming and I have read every comment, email, text and heard every voicemail," he wrote.

While he did not offer an exact date for his return, he closed by saying he would be back "very soon."

"I have a new understanding of what matters," he wrote. "So here’s to moving forward with strength, perspective, and gratitude."