Vale: Bobbie Battista

Former US news anchor Bobbie Battista, who helmed CNN coverage during the ’80s & ’90s, has died, aged 67.

She died on Tuesday after a four-year battle with cervical cancer, family confirmed.

“Bobbie was the consummate trooper in her struggle with cancer, she was courageous and fearless in her battle and thoughtful for all the others in her life even as she fought through the pain,” Battista’s husband John Brimelow said in a statement. “My dear partner of 25 years of marriage has cut her earthly bonds and is now in peace.”

During her 1981-2001 career Battista anchored various CNN news programmes including CNN WorldDay, CNN NewsDay, CNN NewsHour and CNN Daybreak.

She covered major international events including the Challenger space shuttle explosion, the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War and and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Battista was so familiar on screen she was even parodied by Jane Turner on Fast Forward, as well as in the US on Saturday Night Live.

Source: Hollywood Reporter