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Local 10 News family mourns loss of Todd Tongen

Beloved 'life of our party' anchor dies in Southwest Ranches

Andrea Torres, Digital Journalist

Tags:Ā Community, Local, Station, News

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. ā€“ Local 10 News journalists are trained to cover heart-breaking tragedies. They perform their duties under stress even when they are in pain, and they often mourn with the community. It wasn't any different on Monday when the newsroomĀ lost one of their own. Ā 

At 56, Todd Tongen, a beloved Local 10 News veteran, died at home in Broward County's town of Southwest Ranches. For Jeff Weinsier, an investigative reporter who has been with Local 10 News for 25 years,Ā Tongen was not just a colleague. He was a friend andĀ a partner in crime.Ā 

"He was ourĀ prankster," Weinsier said, adding Tongen was always "the life of our party."Ā 

Weinsier was working feet away from Tongen's empty desk.Ā He stopped typing to watchĀ the 4 p.m. obituary on Local 10 News. Michael Putney, a senior political reporter, worked on a short biography that includedĀ shots ofĀ Tongen dressed like Superman, impersonatingĀ ElvisĀ and doing interviews while driving the former 10 Taxi. Weinsier laughed and cried.Ā 

"He was an anchor.Ā He was a feature reporter, a hard news reporter," Weinsier said. "He was everything, and thereā€™s going to be a huge void in this building, and there isĀ going to be a huge void in South Florida."

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The father of two knew how to allow his inner child to have fun. If there was someone in the newsroom who would volunteer to wear a turkey costume on camera to greet Publix Supermarket costumers during the Thanksgiving food drive, assignment desk managers and producersĀ could count onĀ him.

Kerry Weston, an assignment desk manager, worked with Tongen for three decades. She said she knows the five stages of grief and loss include denial and isolation, bargaining, depression and acceptance. She expects that it will take about three or four months for the newsroom team to reach the low point ofĀ grief.

On Monday afternoon, Weston already missed him. She said she remembers his coverage of Hurricane Andrew and his willingness to go on risky adventures such as sky diving. Not matter what the story was about, she said he faced it with the same intensity,Ā interest and commitment to the facts. But hisĀ best stories, she said, were the lighthearted stories.

"He would just bring a smile to your face or a tear, because he knew how to tell a story, how to weave a story, weave the video and the sound bytes," Weston said. "He was a very, very good story teller."

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Tongen also had the brave heart of an entertainer, and the photographers who worked with him knew they were going toĀ laugh if they had the opportunity to spend the day with him. William Damas, who worked with Tongen for two decades, said some of his best memories in the newsroom are with him.

"It was always fun to be with him in every aspect, not matter what the story was," said Damas, the chief photographer.

His positive attitude also made him a good team player.Ā  Bob Palumbo, a veteran photographer, saidĀ Tongen's quick wit and creativity were always on full display and it showed in their stories.Ā 

"I doĀ my best work with Todd Tongen," Palumbo said.Ā "He always brings out the best of me."Ā 

Yelena Orrelly, an associate producer, said Tongen hadĀ become a paternal figure for the weekend team. She said she saw how he coachedĀ the younger more inexperienced producers and helped them to avoid mistakes and stay motivated.Ā 

"Todd walked in and made us omelets. He put a smile on our face every morning and made us feel like we werenā€™t little kids," Orrelly said.Ā "He made us feel we were a star team. He always appreciated us every single day."Ā Ā 

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On Friday, during the annual My Future My Choice Big Book Drive distribution Tongen brought that same joy to schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Everyone in the newsroom trusted him and his weekendĀ co-anchor Neki MohanĀ with the mission. The Local 10 News teamĀ knew his silly ways were going to brighten teachers' days andĀ makeĀ childrenĀ smile.

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About the Author
Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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