Friend and colleague Darlene Rodriguez remembered WNBC reporter Katherine Creag as “an extraordinary human being” on Friday, two days after Creag’s sudden death at 47, after 10 years at the NBC affiliate in New York.
Creag was a beloved presence on WNBC’s “Today in New York” morning show, known for its kindness and abundant energy.
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“She was an extraordinary reporter, as everyone knows, and viewers know, but she was an extraordinary human being,” said Rodriguez, the co-anchor for “Today in New York” on Friday TODAY. “As a mother this shift (in the morning), I admired her and was amazed that she had three children and she was everything a great mother could be.”
The Emmy-winning reporter was born in Manila and affectionately called “Kat” by her friends and colleagues. It covered everything from Super Bowl parades and extreme weather to tragedies and breaking news.
“Kat was a light,” said Rodriguez. “She had that very special spirit and energy. She entered your space, you immediately rose because, no matter what, she was always in a good mood.”
Creag leaves her 14-year-old husband, Bill Gafner, and sons Jack, Gemma and Josie.
“She was that mother that I think we all love, where she is in class and she is doing all the things that stay-at-home moms do because she was just that super mom who was very present and involved in all aspects of their lives, “Rodriguez said. “She was never sweating so much, and I think that as a mother and as a working mother, we could appreciate that. She was always happy.”
The unlimited energy and joy she exuded on the camera did not change when the cameras were turned off.
“She was like you see,” said Rodriguez. “That smile was huge, and she loved to go out. We didn’t think she was really human at times. She was able to go to a party on a Tuesday night and still show up to work and do an incredible job on camera and tell the story with that human touch and that compassion.
“She was a great friend to everyone and really made everyone feel like you were special to her.”
Many of her colleagues shared their memories of her on Twitter on Thursday. The cause of his death was not disclosed.
“Kat was the nicest person I have ever met in this industry”, his colleague WNBC reporter Myles Miller wrote. “Her smile, her laughter and her tenacity made her truly unique. Each text I sent her started with ‘Tita’, which is Tagalog for ‘aunt’ because in my heart she was a family.”
Their working days started at 3 am and occasionally included reports for TODAY. She also enjoyed watching shows in the Rockefeller Center square with Rodriguez.
“Kat taught me how to have more fun, how to enjoy life,” said friend and colleague Tracie Strahan today. “I don’t know how to convey how much this woman was loved and how loving she was to so many people.”