Gloria Valencia de Castaño, the so-called ‘First Lady’ of Colombian television, dies aged 83 after suffering from various health problems, El Espectador reports Thursday.
The pioneering small screen icon was recognized as both a journalist and a television presenter, devoting over 40 years of her life to work on Colombia’s emerging radio and television industry.
She married Alvaro Castaño Castillo in 1947, with whom she would spend the remainder of her life, before they jointly founded the HCJK station in 1950.
Throughout her illustrious career she would go on to host many well-known Colombian TV shows, such as “Naturalia,” while her achievements have been rewarded with an impressive array of journalistic and television awards, including five consecutive years as best entertainer.
The Ibague-native, Tolima, who spent her last years diverting her focus more towards environmental protection, died at her home in Bogota and is survived by her husband and two children.
