On March 12, 2026, Philip Anastos and Nina Anastos said goodbye to their father, legendary New York City news anchor Ernie Anastos, who died at age 82 from pneumonia at Northern Westchester Hospital.

Both Philip Anastos and Nina Anastos were in the room when their father passed, surrounded by family including their mother Kelly Anastos, Ernie’s wife of 57 years.

But who are Philip Anastos and Nina Anastos? What was it like growing up as the children of one of New York’s most trusted news anchors? And how did they build their own lives while carrying the Anastos name?

Meet Nina Anastos: Ernie Anastos’s Daughter

Nina Anastos is the eldest child of Ernie Anastos and Kelly Anastos. Born around 1970, Nina grew up in the shadow of her father’s extraordinary broadcasting career—but she was determined to forge her own path in the family business.

Nina Anastos’s Early Life

Nina Anastos was born into a world where her father’s face appeared on millions of television screens every night. Ernie Anastos was already a rising star at New York’s flagship stations—WABC-TV, WCBS-TV, and later WNYW-TV (Fox 5).

But despite her father’s fame, Nina’s childhood was remarkably normal.

Kelly Anastos and Ernie Anastos made a conscious decision to raise their children away from the Hollywood spotlight. They prioritized family dinners, Greek Orthodox church attendance, and a grounded upbringing in their Armonk, New York home.

Nina’s Greek Heritage

Like her father Ernie (who was born to Greek immigrants) and her mother Kelly (daughter of Greek Orthodox priest Reverend Spyridon Coutros), Nina Anastos was raised deeply connected to her Greek heritage.

Greek was spoken at the Anastos family table. Traditional Greek dishes were prepared for holidays. Greek Orthodox liturgy shaped the rhythm of family life.

This wasn’t just cultural performance—it was identity. Nina grew up understanding that she wasn’t just “Ernie’s daughter.” She was part of a Greek-American lineage that valued faith, family, education, and hard work.

Nina Anastos Joins the Family Business: Anastos Media Group

While her father Ernie Anastos dominated television news, Nina Anastos carved out her own niche in radio broadcasting.

What Is Anastos Media Group?

In the 1980s, Ernie Anastos expanded beyond television and founded Anastos Media Group, a radio station ownership company.

The company acquired and operated several radio stations in upstate New York and New England, building a small media empire alongside Ernie’s TV career.

Nina’s Role: Managing Daily Operations

Nina Anastos took on the responsibility of managing the daily operations of the Anastos Media Group radio stations.

This wasn’t a token position. Nina was deeply involved in:

• Station management
• Programming decisions
• Staff oversight
• Operational strategy

For years, Nina worked behind the scenes to ensure the family’s radio stations ran smoothly while her father continued his high-profile television career.

The Sale of Anastos Media Group (2012)

In 2012, the Anastos family made the decision to sell the radio stations.

After years of successful operation under Nina Anastos’s management, the stations were sold, marking the end of that chapter in the Anastos Media Group story.

But for Nina, it was a significant accomplishment: she had helped build, manage, and successfully transition a family business alongside one of the busiest broadcasting careers in New York history.

Nina Anastos’s Marriage and Family

In October 1994, Nina Anastos married in Rye, New York, continuing the family tradition of Greek Orthodox weddings.

The ceremony was a reflection of the values Kelly and Ernie instilled in their daughter: faith, family, and cultural heritage.

Nina as a Mother

Nina Anastos went on to have children of her own, making Ernie Anastos and Kelly Anastos proud grandparents.

Ernie and Kelly had four grandchildren total (between Nina and her brother Philip), and by all accounts, they cherished their roles as “Papou” and “Yiayia” (Greek for grandfather and grandmother).

Their Armonk home was frequently filled with the laughter and energy of grandchildren visiting for holidays, Sunday dinners, and family celebrations.

Meet Philip Anastos: Ernie Anastos’s Son

Philip Anastos is the younger child of Ernie Anastos and Kelly Anastos. Born around 1973, Philip grew up with the same Greek-American values and grounded upbringing as his sister Nina.

Philip Anastos’s Private Life

Unlike his sister Nina, who took a visible role in the family’s media business, Philip Anastos has maintained a much more private profile.

Very little is publicly known about Philip’s career, personal life, or professional pursuits—and that appears to be by design.

Kelly Anastos and Ernie Anastos gave their children the freedom to choose their own paths. Nina chose to work in the family business. Philip chose privacy. Both choices were respected.

Philip’s Greek Orthodox Upbringing

Like Nina, Philip Anastos was raised with deep ties to Greek Orthodox faith and culture.

He grew up attending church with his family, celebrating Greek holidays, learning the language, and understanding the traditions that connected him to his heritage.

The Anastos home wasn’t just a place where Ernie prepared for broadcasts—it was a place where Greek Orthodox icons hung on the walls, where Greek was spoken, where faith and family came first.

Philip as a Father

Philip Anastos also has children, contributing to the four grandchildren that Ernie and Kelly treasured.

Though details about Philip’s family life remain private, those close to the Anastos family describe him as a devoted father who carries forward the values his parents instilled in him.

Growing Up Anastos: What It Was Like Being Ernie’s Kids

What was it like for Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos to grow up as the children of one of New York’s most recognizable news anchors?

A Father Who Was Rarely Home for Dinner

Ernie Anastos worked in a demanding industry with brutal hours. As a prime-time news anchor, he often wasn’t home for dinner during the week.

But according to family friends, Ernie made up for it on weekends and holidays. When he was home, he was fully present—playing with Nina and Philip, attending church as a family, and prioritizing quality time.

Kelly Held Down the Home Front

While Ernie was on-air covering major news events—the September 11 attacks, the death of John Lennon, Princess Diana’s funeral—Kelly Anastos was at home making sure Nina and Philip had stability, routine, and normalcy.

Kelly drove carpools, attended school events, helped with homework, and created the foundation that allowed Ernie’s career to flourish.

Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos benefited from a mother who prioritized their well-being over public attention.

Privacy Was Paramount

Despite Ernie’s fame, Kelly and Ernie were fiercely protective of Nina and Philip’s privacy.

They didn’t parade their children in front of cameras. They didn’t use family photos for publicity. They didn’t turn their kids into extensions of Ernie’s brand.

Instead, they gave Nina and Philip the gift of normalcy—something rare for children of celebrities.

The Anastos Family Home in Armonk, New York

For decades, Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos grew up in the family’s beautiful home in Armonk, New York.

A Home Built for Family

Ernie and Kelly purchased the Armonk property in 1995 and immediately customized it to fit their family’s needs.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home featured:

• Custom trim, moldings, and cabinetry throughout
• A finished walk-out basement with full bar and recreation area
• A home gym
• A home theater
• Spacious grounds with views of surrounding woods and hills

But more than the physical features, the Armonk home was where Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos built their childhood memories.

It was where family dinners were shared. Where Greek holidays were celebrated. Where Ernie would decompress after covering heartbreaking news. Where Kelly kept the family grounded.

A Gathering Place for Grandchildren

In later years, the Armonk home became a gathering place for Ernie and Kelly’s four grandchildren—Nina’s kids and Philip’s kids.

Papou Ernie and Yiayia Kelly welcomed their grandchildren with the same warmth and love they had given Nina and Philip decades earlier.

Nina and Philip’s Relationship With Their Father

By all accounts, Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos had a close, loving relationship with their father Ernie.

Ernie’s Pride in His Children

Though Ernie Anastos was incredibly private about his family life, those who knew him say he was immensely proud of both Nina and Philip.

He was proud that Nina took on leadership in the family business. He was proud that Philip built a meaningful life outside the public eye. He was proud that both of them remained connected to their Greek heritage and values.

Family Traditions That Bonded Them

The glue that held the Anastos family together was tradition:

• Sunday dinners with Greek food prepared by Kelly
• Greek Orthodox church attendance
• Greek Easter celebrations (often more significant than Western Easter)
• Name day celebrations (a Greek tradition honoring the saint you’re named after)
• Speaking Greek at the table

These weren’t just customs—they were the rituals that connected Nina, Philip, Kelly, and Ernie across decades.

March 12, 2026: Nina and Philip Say Goodbye to Their Father

On March 12, 2026, Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos faced one of the hardest moments of their lives: saying goodbye to their father.

Ernie Anastos died early that morning from pneumonia at Northern Westchester Hospital. He was 82 years old.

They Were There Until the End

According to family statements, both Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos were in the room when their father passed away.

Alongside their mother Kelly, they held Ernie’s hands, surrounded him with love, and were present for his final moments.

For children who had spent their entire lives knowing their father as a steady, reassuring voice on television—the man who delivered news calmly even during New York’s darkest days—this was the moment they had to let him go.

Nina and Philip’s Grief

True to the family’s private nature, neither Nina Anastos nor Philip Anastos has made public statements about their father’s death beyond confirming the news.

But those close to the family say they are leaning on:

• Their Greek Orthodox faith
• Their mother Kelly
• Each other
• Their own families (spouses and children)
• The traditions Ernie and Kelly taught them

How Nina and Philip Are Honoring Their Father’s Legacy

Ernie Anastos left behind an extraordinary legacy:

• 40+ years in New York broadcasting
• Multiple Emmy Awards
• Coverage of historic events: 9/11, John Lennon’s death, Princess Diana’s funeral, countless elections and tragedies
• Millions of New Yorkers who trusted him as their news anchor

But if you asked Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos what their father’s greatest legacy is, they probably wouldn’t mention his Emmy Awards.

The Legacy They Carry Forward

For Nina and Philip, Ernie’s legacy is:

• The importance of family
• Staying connected to cultural heritage
• Faith as a foundation for life
• Hard work and integrity
• Being present for the people you love

Nina carries this forward in how she raised her own children. Philip carries it forward in how he lives his life away from the spotlight.

And both of them carry it forward in how they support their mother Kelly as she navigates life after 57 years of marriage.

What People Say About Nina and Philip Anastos

Those who know the Anastos family describe Nina and Philip as:

• Grounded and humble despite their father’s fame
• Deeply devoted to family
• Respectful of their Greek heritage
• Supportive of their mother Kelly
• Private but kind

They are a reflection of the values Ernie Anastos and Kelly Anastos instilled in them—proof that you can grow up with a famous parent and still remain rooted, humble, and connected to what matters.

Nina and Philip Now: Life After Losing Their Father

At the time of Ernie’s death, Nina Anastos was in her mid-50s and Philip Anastos was in his early 50s.

Both are at stages of life where losing a parent—though inevitable—is still devastating.

Supporting Their Mother Kelly

One of Nina and Philip’s primary focuses right now is supporting their mother Kelly Anastos, who is now a widow after 57 years of marriage.

Kelly leaned on Ernie for nearly six decades. Now, Nina and Philip are stepping in to provide the love, support, and presence their mother needs.

Raising Their Own Families

Both Nina and Philip have children of their own—Ernie and Kelly’s four grandchildren.

Now, they have the responsibility of helping their own children process the loss of their beloved Papou—the grandfather who welcomed them into the Armonk home with warmth, laughter, and Greek treats.

Carrying Forward Greek Traditions

Just as Kelly and Ernie taught Nina and Philip to speak Greek, celebrate name days, and attend church, Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos are now teaching the same traditions to the next generation.

The language, the food, the faith, the rituals—these are the threads that connect Ernie’s grandchildren to their heritage, even as they say goodbye to their Papou.

The Anastos Legacy: Nina and Philip’s Inheritance

What did Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos inherit from their father Ernie Anastos?

Yes, there may be financial inheritance. Yes, there are family photos and mementos.

But the real inheritance is intangible:

• A name that represents integrity in New York broadcasting
• A legacy of faith and family
• Greek traditions passed down through generations
• Memories of a father who loved deeply and worked hard
• The example of a 57-year marriage built on partnership and respect

Nina and Philip don’t need to work in television to honor their father. They honor him by living the values he taught them.

Final Thoughts: Nina and Philip Anastos After Ernie’s Death

On March 12, 2026, Nina Anastos and Philip Anastos lost their father, legendary New York news anchor Ernie Anastos.

But they didn’t just lose a famous broadcaster. They lost the man who taught them to speak Greek. Who took them to church on Sundays. Who worked tirelessly to provide for his family. Who loved their mother for 57 years.

They lost their Papou—the grandfather their own children adored.

Now, Nina and Philip carry forward Ernie’s legacy—not through television screens, but through family dinners, Greek traditions, faith, and the love they pour into their own children.

Rest in peace, Ernie Anastos. Your daughter Nina and your son Philip are honoring you every day by living the values you taught them.

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SHARE YOUR MEMORIES: If you have memories of Ernie Anastos or want to send support to Nina, Philip, Kelly, and the entire Anastos family, please leave a respectful comment below.