Journalist David Diaz remembered as a "reporter's reporter" at celebration of life

Journalist and pedagogue David Diaz remembered astatine solemnisation of his beingness

Journalist and pedagogue David Diaz remembered astatine solemnisation of his life 02:50

The beingness and enactment of writer and pedagogue David Diaz was celebrated Thursday, connected the eve of what would've been his 83rd birthday. 

Diaz died successful March. 

Friends and colleagues turned retired to retrieve David, who helped archer the communicative of New York from the 1970s into this century. 

His bequest was beforehand and halfway astatine Riverside Church successful Morningside Heights, wherever helium was remembered arsenic a existent New Yorker who ne'er mislaid interaction with the psyche of the city. 

"Not lone was helium a reporter's reporter, helium was a quality being's quality being," erstwhile quality enforcement Joe Coscia, Sr. said. 

Coscia recalled David's professionalism and humanity during the nightmare of 9/11. 

"He was specified a mentor"

Cindy Hsu joined CBS News New York successful 1993, conscionable arsenic Diaz came implicit aft galore years astatine NBC. 

"In my 20s, and helium was specified a mentor. So professional, specified a gentleman. No substance however rushed and stressed things were, helium would ever instrumentality the time," Hsu said. 

"I ever admired David, a small intimidated by him, but helium was smart, and aft helium near section news, helium taught. He was teaching the adjacent procreation of New York City reporters," erstwhile newsman Mary Murphy said. 

"David was 1 of a kind"

Diaz believed successful the powerfulness of journalism to animate anticipation and pass democracy. New Yorkers saw him arsenic idiosyncratic who shared their struggles and values.

"He had lived specified a beingness -- roller coasters up and down -- and that's what existent radical experience," Hsu said. 

"That smile. That love. David was 1 of a kind," Coscia said. 

Diaz is survived by his daughters, Nina and Elena, who person some enjoyed distinguished broadcasting careers, and his beloved wife, Andrea. 

He was a arrogant autochthonal of Puerto Rico, and a trailblazer successful New York media for Latinos. 

"I was beauteous good known successful this town. Pretty bully estimation that I built implicit time. I'm beauteous arrogant of what I did," Diaz antecedently said. 

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