Ciarrocchi bids adieu to CBS3

She's had a dazzling career anchoring television news in her hometown Philadelphia market for more than three decades. Now CBS3's Pat Ciarrocchi is hanging up her hat.

When Pope Francis departed Philadelphia 11 days ago, Ciarrocchi said it was a "wheels up" moment for her, too.

"The Francis visit has empowered me with the strength to forge a path that is certain to use my voice," she wrote on Facebook.

Ciarrochi's been to the Vatican several times, including covering the funeral of Pope John Paul II and the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. But when she learned that Pope Francis was coming to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families, "I could barely breathe," she told me.

When his plane touched down in Philly, "I got choked up as I waited for that," she said. "Then to hear him say, off-script, about sex abuse, and that God weeps, my heart just leapt! To hear him say that in this town, where sex abuse has been so devastating, it was remarkable to me that he made that statement."

Ciarrocchi's become a familiar face on the noon anchor desk alongside co-hosts Ukee Washington and Erika Von Tiehl. Previously, the Chester County native, who joined Channel 3 in 1982, anchored the early morning news. During that time, the show expanded from a half-hour to two hours.

She co-hosted "Evening Magazine" in the early '90s and was the medical reporter for five years. She's gotten numerous Philadelphia Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2014. Ciarrocchi got her start in broadcasting in 1974 at WAMS Radio in Wilmington, Del.

As for what's next, Pat isn't sure. "But the thing that's really, absolutely clear is that I'm not retiring. I'm essentially rebooting."

CBS3 general manager Brien Kennedy called Pat a "wonderful example for a generation of broadcasters."

One thing I didn't know - Ciarrocchi's family has a mushroom business in Chester County. "That could be my good fallback position," she quipped.

She continued: "I'd like to have more freedom to use what it is I'm about in another way. I'm not exactly sure how that will frame itself yet, but I do have some ideas.

"I'm phenomenally grateful to this television station. I'm phenomenally grateful to the people who, for over 33 1/2 years, have always made me part of their lives."

Watch Pat at noon on CBS3 until Oct. 15, her last day. She and her husband, David Fineman, then plan to spend two weeks in Italy.

The concertmaster of the Philly Pops, Michael Ludwig, is marrying his sweetheart, violinist Rachael Mathey, during the Pops concert Saturday at the Kimmel Center (1500 Walnut St.).

The plan is to get married in a brief ceremony before intermission at the podium inside Verizon Hall - with Mayor Nutter officiating - in front of family, friends, the audience and the orchestra.

"Since it was performing on the concert stage that brought us together, it seems most natural that we begin our married life together on the concert stage," Mathey said.

"Months ago, it was almost like a lightbulb turned on, and Michael said to me, 'This is a crazy idea, but what would you think about getting married during a Philly Pops concert?' Since then it has been a whirlwind of excitement."

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