Local 10 family mourns the loss of Todd Tongen

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PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Local 10 News journalists are trained to cover heartbreaking tragedies. They perform their duties under stressful conditions even when they are in pain, and they often cry with the community. It was no different Monday when the newsroom lost one of theirs.

At age 56, Todd Tongen, a beloved veteran of Local 10, died at his home in Southwest Ranches, Broward County. For Jeff Weinsier, an investigative journalist who has been working at Local 10 News for 25 years, Tongen was not just a coworker. He was a friend and a criminal partner.

"He was our joker," Weinsier said, adding that Tongen was still "the life of our party".

Weinsier was working a few feet from the empty Tongen office. He stopped typing to watch the 16 hours. Obituary on Local 10 News. Michael Putney, a senior political reporter, worked on a short biography featuring clichés of Tongen dressed as Superman, imitating Elvis and doing interviews while driving the old taxi. Weinsier laughed and cried.

"He was a presenter, he was a news reporter, a news reporter," Weinsier said. "It was everything and there will be a huge void in this building, and there will be a huge void in South Florida."

The father of two knew how to allow his inner child to have fun. There was someone in the newsroom who would volunteer to wear a turkey suit in front of the camera to greet Publix supermarket customers during the Thanksgiving food drive, the directors of the offices mission and the producers could count on him.

Kerry Weston, Head of the Assignments Office, worked with Tongen for three decades. She said that she knew the five stages of grief and loss, including denial and isolation, negotiations, depression, and acceptance. She predicts it will take about three or four months for the newsroom team to reach the low point of grief.

On Monday afternoon, Weston had already missed him. She recounted that she remembered her coverage of Hurricane Andrew and her willingness to experience risky adventures such as skydiving. Regardless of the subject of the story, she said that he was confronted with the same intensity, interest, and commitment to the facts. But her best stories, she said, are light stories.

"It would just bring you a smile or a tear because it knew how to tell a story, how to weave a story, weave video and sound bytes," said Weston. "He was a very, very good narrator."

Tongen also had the courage of a performer and the photographers who worked with him knew that they would laugh if they had the opportunity to spend the day with him. William Damas, who has worked for Tongen for two decades, said some of his best writing memories were with him.

"It was always fun to be with him in every aspect, no matter what the story," said Damas, the chief photographer.

His positive attitude has also made him a good team player. Bob Palumbo, a seasoned photographer, said that Tongen's bright spirit and creativity were still visible and that this was reflected in their stories.

"I'm doing my best with Todd Tongen," said Palumbo. "He always brings out the best of me."

Yelena Orrelly, associate producer, said Tongen had become a father figure for the weekend team. She said she saw how he coached the youngest and most inexperienced producers and helped them avoid mistakes and stay motivated.

"Todd came in and made us omelets, he smiled at us every morning and made us feel like we were not little kids," Orrelly said. "He made us feel like we were a star team and he always appreciated us every day."

On Friday, at the annual My Book My Choice Big Book Drive, Tongen brought the same joy to Miami-Dade and Broward County schools. Everyone in the newsroom trusted his mission, as well as his weekend co-presenter, Neki Mohan. The Local 10 News team knew that their idiotic methods would enlighten teachers' day and make children smile.

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