Fixture In Our Homes, Leader In Her Home Town: Elise Finch Remembered

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A television personality who we welcomed into our homes for years is being remembered locally not just for the connection she made with a generation of viewers, but for the kindness and leadership she showed in the community where she was born and raised.

In Mount Vernon, which she called home until her sudden death at age 51, the loss of Elise Finch was felt personally.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend Elise Dione Finch Henriques on July 16, 2023," Mount Vernon Mayor Shawn Patterson-Howard said in an emotional statement released on social media. "Elise was a beloved daughter of Mount Vernon who proudly served as an ambassador for our community. She worked for WCBS news for 16 years as a meteorologist. Elise was the Daughter of James and Charlette Finch, Sister of Kiya Finch-Roberts, Mother of Grace and Wife of Graig Henriques. Please keep the family in your prayers. Details for her celebration of life are forthcoming."

Finch's former colleague and fellow Westchester resident Tony Aiello also took to Twitter to express his sorrow at the loss.

"Elise Finch loved music," Aiello wrote. "The song of her life deserved many more verses. Her gifts were many, and so too the lives she touched. My deepest condolences to Graig and little Grace, her parents and sister, and all our CBS2 family. Elise — may angels sing you to your rest."

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano recounted a moment that loomed large in both his and Finch's lives.

"In 2013, I had the opportunity to officiate Elise Finch's wedding at our beautiful Untermyer Gardens Conservancy," Mayor Spano said. "She was a longtime friend and colleague of my wife Mary Calvi. I will remember her vivaciousness, bright smile, and dedication to her work. Sending my sincerest condolences to her family, her husband Graig, daughter Grace and her CBS family."

Finch used her celebrity to the benefit of her community and it was the same drive, passion and grace that made her so popular as a broadcaster that led her to help lift her neighbors up.

"We lost a wonderful community leader, the beloved Elise Finch," New Rochelle YMCA officials said of their now departed champion. "She gave so much of herself for others. Our hearts go out to her husband, daughter, family and close friends. The New Rochelle YMCA will work to honor her memory in the years to come."

The Emmy-winning meteorologist died at a local hospital Saturday, CBS New York announced.

She was on the air as late as Friday morning. She leaves behind her husband, Graig Henriques, a photojournalist at WCBS, and daughter Grace. The family had moved back to Mount Vernon several months ago.

Finch began her career as a production coordinator at E! Entertainment Television. She moved up to CBS and Fox affiliates in Youngstown, OH, and the ABC affiliate in Austin, MN, where she served as an anchor and reporter. She began reporting the weather, on weekends, in her next stint for the CBS affiliate in Phoenix, AZ. She jumped networks to NBC, serving as a meteorologist for the "Early Today Show," MSNBC and NBC Weather Plus. Finch finally landed back at CBS in April 2007, joining the team of meteorologists at CBS New York, according to her online bio.

Finch's colleagues also took to social media to express their shock and dismay at her sudden death.

"My heart hurts," WCBS anchor Mary Calvi posted on Facebook. "Elise Finch was our light, our rock, our dear friend. I am beyond saddened at the tragic loss of a woman I so adored and respected."

CBS sportscaster Steve Overmyer tweeted: "Heartbroken today with the devastating news we lost our amazing friend and colleague Elise Finch. Her smile and positive energy always left a smile on everyone’s face. Our thoughts are with her husband Graig and daughter Grace and the entire Finch family."

The meteorologist was a graduate of Mount Vernon High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University, where she received the prestigious President's Award. She later received a Master of Science degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University, and completed the Broadcast Meteorology Program at Mississippi State University. She holds the seal of approval from the American Meteorological Society.

Finch's boss, CBS New York chief weathercaster Lonnie Quinn, said her best work was done in the field, in the rain.

"I want this day to start over again, I want it to end differently," he posted on Facebook. "For the viewers who watched Elise, you saw a consummate professional. She was outstanding in front of the green screen. When she was in the field reporting live, she was even better. The best live shot of Super Storm Sandy belongs to Elise. She stood in front of the Brooklyn battery tunnel and showed us how a little trickle of water turned into a white capped, raging river. She talked us through everything and she was amazing."

The cause of Finch's death has not yet been determined, according to information on WCBS New York's website.

Patch's Rich Kirby contributed to this report.