CNN Anchors Pay Tribute to Colleague Melissa Elkas, Who Died Suddenly After Medical Emergency

Melissa Elkas.Photo:Melissa Elkas/LinkedIn

Melissa Elkas/LinkedIn

CNN staffers are mourning the loss of Melissa Elkas, a veteran electronic graphics operator, who died on Wednesday after experiencing a medical emergency.

“We have some heartbreaking news to share with you all. Earlier today, a member of our CNN family, Melissa Elkas, an Electronics Graphics Operator for CNN New York, experienced a medical emergency and later passed away at the hospital,” the memo read.

The memo described Elkas as “a friend to everyone and dear friend to many,” adding, “She was warm, caring and loved CNN and what we do more than anything else.”

CNN This Morningshared a tributeto Elkas on Thursday.

In an emotional moment, co-hostPoppy Harlowsaid Elkas worked onCNN This Morning"every morning, as happy as can be."

“Those banners that you see at the bottom of your screen? That was all her. The full-screen graphics you see throughout the broadcast — that was all Melissa,” Harlow added.

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“To say that she was a vital part of CNN would be an understatement. Melissa could do it all,” Cooper said. “Melissa was really good at her job, but she was also a really, really good human being. She was kind, loving, she was a mentor always willing to help others, and she knew how to make other people feel good.”

source: people.com