Denise D'Ascenzo Foundation To Advance Work Of Beloved Journalist

BRANFORD, CT - A non-profit foundation to honor the work and legacy of Denise D'Ascenzo has been launched by her family, WFSB-TV and Liberty Bank.

Wayne Cooke, D’Ascenzo’s husband, talked to Patch about the effort on Tuesday.

The beloved Channel 3 news anchor and Branford resident died suddenly last December of what her family said was a heart attack.

Cooke said the foundation was an important step for him and his wife's television family to undertake.

"The outpouring of support we received from, really, everyone after her death just made us realize we needed to do something to honor everything that Denise stood for," Cooke said. "That's why we are doing this."

Cooke said that in the wake of D'Ascenzo's death,"Our entire world was turned upside down."

Cooke said his main concern now is to look after their daughter, Kathryn, who is finishing up her senior year as an environmental science major at Cornell University.

Cooke said that all his wife's "good qualities have been passed down to Kathryn," saying his daughter has been working through the grief, just as he has.

"It's been hard, very hard" Cooke said, "but we're doing the best we can."

Besides dealing with the loss of his wife, Cooke wants the causes she cared most about to somehow benefit from the pain - hence the foundation.

The mission of The Denise D'Ascenzo Foundation "is to carry on Denise's passionate efforts to support advances in medicine, and health, women's and children's issues, and journalism studies."

"These causes were particularly close to Denise's heart, and your generous donation will greatly assist in providing worthy organizations the support they need," Cooke said.

The foundation has as its motto, "Be open. Be kind. Be brave."

Learn more here about the foundation and how to donate. Donations may also be mailed to The Denise D'Ascenzo Foundation, Dept. 1370; PO Box 986500, Boston, MA, 02298-6500.

A public memorial service is being held at the Connecticut Convention Center on Wednesday to honor and remember D'Ascenzo.