Seattle - UPI
Seattle news anchor Kathi Goertzen has died following a 14-year struggle with recurring, non-cancerous brain tumors, her family said. The KOMO-TV anchor was hospitalized late last week after the tumors left her unable to breathe on her own, The Seattle Times reported Tuesday. A native of Seattle, Goertzen, 54, was one of the most recognized and trusted anchors in local TV news for a generation. She anchored KOMO\'s newscasts for nearly three decades, winning five Emmy Awards and one Edward R. Murrow award for her work. Goertzen dealt with her declining health from the recurring brain tumors by publicly airing details about her condition. In a 2011 news story, she allowed the camera to show the left side of her face where nerve damage left her unable to smile. \"I\'m not one to hide,\" she said. Goertzen is survived by her husband, Rick Jewett, and two daughters.