Ana Orsini, a news anchor for KOLD 13 in Tucson, Arizona, passed away due to a brain aneurysm at the age of 28. Tyler Butler and Carsyn Currier, her co-anchors, delivered the sad news during a live broadcast on December 16.

Dan Marries, a fellow KOLD 13 News anchor, praised Orsini in a Facebook post, saying, “Ana Orsini, you were one in a trillion; wise beyond your years, full of practical insight, smart, compassionate, quick-witted, and possessed a contagious love for animals.”

A Denver, Colorado native, Orsini started her higher education at the University of Arizona before moving to Texas A&M University. She graduated with a journalism degree and dual minors in communication and sports management.

Orsini’s broadcasting career began in 2018 in Lubbock, Texas, where she held roles both as a reporter and anchor. She initiated a “Pet of the Day” segment to promote local shelter animals during her time there. Before relocating to Tucson, she spent three years as a morning and midday anchor in Medford, Oregon.

Orsini’s colleagues described her as a friendly and exuberant personality who had a way of making others feel special.

“To know Ana was to LOVE her,” Carsyn Currier, a co-anchor, wrote in a social media post. “She made everyone around her feel so special, heard and understood.”

Orsini joined KOLD 13 News in June 2023 and quickly became recognized for her catchphrase during broadcasts, “Let the women do the work!” Colleagues recalled her as a person with endless empathy who frequently offered support to new staff and mentored young journalists.

Orsini’s love for animals was not limited to her profession. She was a dog owner, with a rescue named Harley, and was known for her commitment to aiding shelter animals throughout her career.

The KOLD 13 News team paid tribute to Orsini by wearing pink during broadcasts and sharing cherished memories of her time at the station. Her love for true crime podcasts, and college football, and her unique sense of humor were highlighted.

Orsini is survived by her twin sisters, who were cheerleaders at UCLA, her parents, who are University of Arizona alumni, and her rescue dog, Harley.

The family has requested that donations be made to local animal shelters in Orsini’s memory, emphasizing her love for dogs. The station aired a tribute video featuring Orsini with rescue dogs and highlights from her time as an anchor.