Remembering our beloved colleague Elise Finch one year after her death
NEW YORK - We're remembering our beloved colleague Elise Finch, who passed away a year ago on this day.
She died unexpectedly at the age of 51.
Elise was a meteorologist with our CBS New York family since 2007.
Besides her love for her job, she was also extremely involved in her hometown of Mount Vernon, her sorority and pushing for girls' involvement in science. The impact she made on those around her and her hometown still remains.
Tuesday morning, loved ones gathered at St. Philip and St. James Church in the Bronx for a Mass said in her honor.
"This has been a year. It has truly been love persevering. We miss her deeply. And at the same time, I'm so grateful that her memory lives in all of our hearts," Elise's cousin Jasmine Bellamy said. "I just encourage you to continue to live out your life in love."
Above all, Elise loved her daughter Grace.
Elise's sister Kiya Finch-Roberts spoke about how Grace is doing now.
"We want to make sure that the ideas and the thoughts and the desires of Elise's heart for Grace are followed through. You know, she made her first Communion. She was in a dance recital. She takes hip hop and ballet, although she doesn't like hip hop anymore, she wants to take jazz - she likes jazz dance. So she's going to do that," Kiya said. "We just really work hard to stay committed to each other as a family and to support each other, and to make sure Grace is taken care over.
We are thinking of her husband Graig as well, who is a member of the CBS New York Team as one of our photographers.
Group honor's Elise's memory
Elise grew up in a Mount Vernon family that stressed the importance of community involvement. One good cause she supported empowers girls interested in careers in science, such as meteorology.
"Were trying to empower them, to understand that you do deserve what it is you want," G.O.O.D. For Girls founder Lori Stephens said.
At the G.O.O.D. For Girls two-week summer experience program, it's all about STEAM - science, technology, engineering, art and math.
"It has been giving me ideas on what to study, what to do when I go off to high school and college," student Zaryah Cartagena said.
Stephens says Elise was a supporter and an inspiraiton.
"Elise loved young people. She loved to pour positivity into young people, and she did what she could do to help them succeed," Stephens said.
Elise loved young people, she loved to pour positivity into young people and she did what she could do to help them succeed. With her deep love of music, and her ability to communicate the science of meteorology, Elise embodied the elements of the "STEAM" acronym, and young viewers took notice.
"We say all the time, 'If you can't see it, you can't be it.' And so someone like Elise was an absolute spotlight role model for young people of color, and women in particular," said Margaret Kaufer of the STEM Alliance.
G.O.O.D. For Girls has created a beautiful tribute to Elise - a scholarship in her name. it will help young women pursue further education in the fields that meant so much to her.
"She was the whole person, and we're so grateful to have known her and for her to have shone her light on G.O.O.D. For Girls," Stephens said. "She's missed. She's missed. We are determined not to let her legacy die."
