Looking back on ABC7 Chicago anchor Alan Krashesky's life and career

CHICAGO (WLS) -- It's an emotional week at ABC7 Chicago as we say goodbye to legendary anchor Alan Krashesky.

Alan will anchor his final newscasts on Tuesday, Nov. 22. But before he signs off for the last time, we're taking a look back at his life and career.

Alan Krashesky shares one last message with his ABC7 audience as he signs off for the final time in his 40-year career.

During his 40 years here, he's covered the Roman Catholic Church extensively. As Alan prepares to retire, he spoke with Cardinal Blase Cupich about the key issues of today and what the future holds.

Alan started his career at WLS as a reporter in 1982 when he was just 21 years old. He anchored the news cut-ins for Good Morning America, and launched Chicago's first morning newscast.

Alan Krashesky looks back on his time as morning news anchor at ABC7.

He then went on to anchor every afternoon and evening newscast at ABC7, and began his current role as the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. anchor in 2016.

Over the years Alan has reported from the four Democratic National Conventions, both sides of the U.S. Mexican border, and from Puerto Rico in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria. He's also led the station's coverage of the Roman Catholic Church and reported on three Chicago Cardinal Archbishops and three Popes from all over the world.

Judy Hsu takes a look back at some of Alan Krashesky's career milestones over the last 40 years at ABC7.

He has traveled to Rome extensively, covering the church's handling of the U.S. sexual abuse crisis, the death of Pope John Paul II and the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

He said the capstone of his career was traveling with the late Fritzie Fritzhshall, a Holocaust survivor, and Cardinal Blase Cupich to Auschwitz to share Fritzshall's personal survival story and her passion for fighting against hatred.

Through all these years and all these stories, what has been most important to him is his family.

Alan's father was killed in a robbery when he was four months old, and that personal tragedy shaped his life, guiding his empathetic reporting and generous spirit. He attended Milton Hersey School, a residential school for children with financial and social need.

From his first days as a reporter to his final day on the ABC7 Chicago anchor desk, Alan has had one rock through it all: his family.

He met his wife Colleen in 1977 when they were both in high school. They had three children - Kaylin, Kiera and Kian - and three grandchildren, Caroline, Harrison and Theodore.

Stay tuned for more memories and tributes to Alan on our newscasts Tuesday.