Todd Tongen Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife, Kids, Cause of Death, Family, Net Worth, Parents, Health, Obituary, Funeral, Height, Nationality and Ethnicity
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Todd Tongen Biography – Todd Tongen Wiki
Todd Tongen was an Emmy Award-winning Local 10 News anchor and reporter.
Tongen began his broadcasting career in 1983 in his native Minnesota, first as a radio disc jockey on country radio station KMRS-AM after graduating from the University of Minnesota in Duluth and Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis. He then went on to work at an adult contemporary station in Grand Junction, Colorado, in 1984, before becoming a movie host and weatherman on KJCT-TV.
From 1986 to 1989, Tongen was a feature reporter and weatherman at KARK-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he once ate crawfish with future President Bill Clinton. He joined WPLG in December 1989. He worked for ABC affiliate WPLG for nearly three decades.
Todd won an Associated Press Award for best weather segment in 1988. In 1989, he received the Associated Press Award for best feature report. He also won an Emmy Award for feature reporting and has been nominated six times.
Todd Tongen Birthday
Todd was born on February 28, 1963.
Todd Tongen Age
Todd was 56 years old.
Todd Tongen Wife
He was married to his wife Karen
Todd Tongen Children
He had two sons; Tyler and Ryker.
Todd Tongen Death
Todd was found dead on June 3, 2019 at his home. He was home alone at the time. His older son was at Florida State University and his wife and younger son were in Italy on vacation.
WPLG confirmed Todd’s death in a statement: “OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN 💔 We at Local 10 are sad to report that longtime family member Todd Tongen has died. He was 56.”
Our hearts are broken 💔 Longtime Local 10 family member Todd Tongen has died at the age of 56 https://t.co/pbk9iGLr9V pic.twitter.com/vXGoKMhAEI
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) June 3, 2019
Todd Tongen Cause of Death – Todd Tongen Suicide
Todd Tongen’s cause of death was suicide. According to Todd’s brother, Dr. Scott Tongen, Todd was tormented by the fear that he had lewy body dementia, the same affliction that claimed the life of their mother in August 2017.
WPLG Executive Sports Producer Dukie Lang wrote on Twitter: “Horrible day. Our Michael Putney said something so profound: ‘The cause of death is not yet known, the cause of grief is.’ Absolutely gutted. Every newsroom needs personalities like Todd Tongen. He was so creative and so funny. I could see a story & know it was a Tongen.”
WPLG President and CEO Bert Medina said, “We are shocked and saddened by the death of Todd Tongen, but we are choosing to remember how he lived. odd was an incredibly talented journalist. He spent 30 years at WPLG telling the stories of the people in our community and giving so much of himself to this community. He was an incredible person. He lit up the room with his warm personality.
“As hard as it is, our news team is reporting on the circumstance of Todd’s death. We will report on this painful subject of suicide and mental health and perhaps we can help one person out there who is struggling. We miss Todd terribly. Our staff is suffering, but I commend them for how they’ve handled this situation with grace, strength and professionalism.”
