DENVER — Veteran TV reporter Rick Sallinger, who worked for decades at CBS Denver and at 9NEWS in the 1980s, died Wednesday night.
Sallinger retired in December after 36 years at KCNC because of health reasons. He was 74 years old and died from natural causes, KCNC reported.
Before he worked for KCNC, he reported for six years at 9NEWS in the 1980s.
His son, Marc Sallinger, is a reporter and anchor at 9NEWS.
Rick Sallinger's family posted a statement to social media on Thursday that said, "Rick passed away peacefully Wednesday night. We are heartbroken. For 30 years he was a devoted journalist in Denver. He loved every second of it. He was the best father to his two sons and a loving husband to his wife of 30 years. We love you endlessly."
> The video below aired in December, when Rick Sallinger retired:
Marc Sallinger wrote about his father and following in his footsteps when Rick Sallinger retired in December. He said he remembered staring at the TV as a kid and saying, "I want to go in there like Daddy."
Marc said on social media on Thursday: "He was the best father I could ask for. I loved adventuring around the world and seeing new places together. Working alongside him as competitors in Denver news was special every day. I will miss it so much."
> The video below is from the 9NEWS archive: Rick Sallinger reports on an escaped alligator from the Denver Zoo in 1981:
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