REMEMBERING ELISE FINCH: CBS LOSES A BELOVED COLLEAGUE, MT. VERNON LOSES A NATIVE DAUGHTER

BY AJ WOODSON

CBS-New York meteorologist and Mount Vernon resident Elise Dione Finch Henriques, died suddenly over the weekend, just a day or two after appearing on air. She was 51 years old, she died July 16, 2023, in a local hospital, although her cause of death isn’t disclosed just yet.

In April 2007, Elise Finch, a meteorologist, and Emmy Award winner joined the CBS New York weather team and was most recently on the morning news with Mary Calvi and Chris Wragge. In September, Elise joined Cindy Hsu on the 9 am newscast. Before joining the CBS team, Ms. Finch formerly worked for NBC as a meteorologist on the “Early Today Show,” MSNBC, and NBC Weather Plus.

CBS in remembrance in the beloved colleague said, “Elise was a gifted and consummate professional who took great care with her work. She was also a wonderful ambassador in the community, including her hometown of Mount Vernon. Above all, Elise was a fiercely loving and devoted mother to her daughter Grace and wife to Graig Henriques, who is a photojournalist at WCBS.”

WCBS anchor Jessica Moore choked up with grief as she announced Finch’s death on-air Sunday. She also tweeted a heartwarming message.

“Elise was fiercely loyal to those she loved, a straight shooter, a consummate professional, and made me laugh until I cried,” Moore wrote. “But above all she was completely devoted to her family, especially her daughter Grace. I love you so much, my friend. Heaven now has an angel like no other.”

WCBS reporter Tony Aiello also remembered Finch for her love of music.

“The song of her life deserved many more verses. Her gifts were many, and so too the lives she touched,” he tweeted. “My deepest condolences to Graig and little Grace, her parents and sister, and all our CBS2 family.”

“My heart hurts. 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,” Mary Calvi shared.

“One of Mount Vernon, New York’s GEMS gone too soon,” Mount Vernon City Councilman Derrick Thompson wrote on Facebook.

Ms. Finch was previously the weekend weather anchor for the Phoenix CBS affiliate. She had previously worked as a news anchor and reporter for the ABC and CBS stations in Austin, Minnesota, and Youngstown, Ohio. It was at E! Entertainment Television that Finch got her start in the television industry; she was a production coordinator for live events and other one-off projects.

Finch attended Mount Vernon High School and grew up in the Mount Vernon community of New York. She attended Georgetown University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science and was honored with a President’s Award. She continued her education at Syracuse University and got her master’s degree in broadcast journalism. The American Meteorological Society accredits Ms. Finch and is a graduate of Mississippi State University’s Broadcast Meteorology Program.

Finch is a big fan of showing up to local gatherings. She has served as emcee for events hosted by the Westchester Library System, the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater New Jersey, the Mount Vernon High School Hall of Fame, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Ms. Finch is a meteorologist and a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Association of Black Journalists. The Westchester area is her home.

Elise Finch was born on 24th February 1972 in Mount Vernon to James Finch Jr and Charlotte Finch. She grew up with her sibling sister named Kiya. Elise completed her high school education at Mount Vernon high school in New York City.

After which she went on to pursue her college education at Georgetown University. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in science degree and also pursued her Master’s in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University. Later she completed the Broadcast Meteorology Program at Mississippi State University and received the seal of approval from the American Meteorological Society.

Elise started her career as a journalist working behind the scenes at E! Entertainment and also helped as a production coordinator for special projects. Later on, she started working as a meteorological journalist in 2007 when she joined the WCBS network where she worked as a weekend weather anchor.

She has worked at CBS, ABC, and FOX network affiliates in Ohio, and Minnesota. After that, she joined the NBC network as a meteorological journalist and started anchoring on the “Early today show” at MSNBC and for NBC Weather Plus. She was well-known for her unique style of weather reporting and is also an award-winning reporter. She was awarded the Emmy Award for her work at CBS meteorological team in 2019.

• Elise was awarded the President award for her academics during her Bachelor’s graduation at Georgetown University.

• She has been an anchor for the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater New Jersey, Mount Vernon High School Hall of Fame, JDRF Walk for a Cure, etc in their community events.

• Elise was a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the American Meteorological Society.

• She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for around 25 years.

• Elise was a patron of the Minisink Spirit Inc where leadership training is provided to youth.

While celebrating Elise Finch, Tuesday, July 25th at Macedonia Baptist Church (141 South 9th Ave, Mount Vernon), another great Mount Vernon Knight, the World renowned saxophonist Mike Phillips blessed those in attendance with an incredibly soulful rendition of “Going up Yonder.”

We celebrate the life and legacy of Elise Dione Finch Henriques, a true Black Westchester Legend. You may be gone but will never be forgotten!!

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