Yvonne Zanos dies

KDKA-TV consumer reporter Yvonne Zanos passed away early this morning from complications related to ovarian cancer. She had just turned 60 on Wednesday. Zanos was diagnosed with the cancer in late 2007, but remarkably continued to work through treatments.

Her career began at KDKA-TV in the 1970’s when she was a reporter for “Evening Magazine” before moving on to a similar program in Kansas City. In 1984, she joined WTAE-TV as a general assignment reporter and moved over to consumer reporting in 1987. Zanos rejoined KDKA in 1997, but was kept off the air for a year because of a non-compete clause in her ‘TAE contract. In addition, Zanos wrote a consumer column for the Post-Gazette.

KDKA General Manager Chris Pike told the Post-Gazette that he would have difficulty finding someone as well-liked at the station and in the community. “It’s a cliche, but what you see is what you get. Her personality, which was fun and contagious, came through the TV screen. Viewers recognized that she was genuine and enjoyed what she did, and that allowed her to develop a real special connection with viewers.”

The former Yvonne Marquer was married to former Pitt football star Jim Zanos and was a proud mother two two daughters and grandmother to four granddaughters and one grandson.

KDKA reports that Yvonne’s “final triumph for a reporter who has helped so many” was this past Thanksgiving when she helped to raise a record amount of money for the KDKA Turkey Fund.

Funeral plans are incomplete but in lieu of flowers her family asks that donations be made to the KDKA Turkey Fund at the following address:

KD Turkey Fund
c/o Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
1 N. Linden St
Duquesne, PA 15110