Submitted Photo Legendary WKBW-TV Eyewitness News anchor Irv Weinstein has passed away. WBBZ-TV joins everyone in the area in remembering this iconic broadcaster and supporter of Western New York.

CLARENCE — Phil Arno, owner of WBBZ-TV and the entire Hometown MeTV Station team extends their sympathies to the family of Irv Weinstein, his friends, and legions of fans on his passing.

The 87-year-old former anchor of Channel 7’s “Eyewitness News” was iconic in Buffalo as part of the longest running, and most popular television news anchor team in broadcast history.

In honor of Irv’s passing, WBBZ-TV will re-broadcast a half hour “Giants of Buffalo Broadcasting” special this evening at 8 p.m. Phil Arno and John Di Sciullo interview retired sports anchor Rick Azar, weather anchor Tom Jolls, and news icon Irv Weinstein about their careers, and lives off screen. The trio were in Buffalo in March of 2014 at the invitation of the Buffalo History Museum for a “Giants of Buffalo” event. Di Sciullo worked with Weinstein from 1983 until his retirement in 1998 when he was a programming executive at WKBW. Irv hired Phil Arno in the 1970s, giving him his first job as a television news film photographer.

In addition, Buffalo storyteller Steve Cichon will be a special guest on the Friday edition of “Daily Buzz 716” — LIVE at 10 a.m. — to share his memories of Irv. Cichon wrote a book about Irv several years ago that is full of photos and stories.

For more on the passing of this legend, go to www.wkbw.comfor more video clips. Post your memories of Irv on our Facebook page, and @WBBZ on Twitter.

WBBZ is seen throughout Western New York over-the-air on digital channel 67.1. Ch. 5 on Verizon FiOS (HD 505); Ch 5 Dish; Ch. 67 DirecTV, and these Spectrum Cable channels: Buffalo – Niagara Falls Metro area: Channel 5 (HD 1230); Batavia – Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans Counties Channel 71 (HD 1230); Parts of Erie and Niagara Counties Channel 71 (HD 1230); Dunkirk, & Warsaw Channel 99 (HD 1230); Olean Channel 21 (HD 1230); Fredonia – Jamestown Channel 72 (HD 1230); Alfred- Angelica- Avoca- Bath- Bolivar Friendship- Hornell Channel 71 (HD 1230).

WBBZ-TV is WNY’s only locally owned and operated television station. 4545 Transit Road, suite 750 Williamsville, NY 14221. 716-630-9229. www.wbbz.tv “Like” WBBZ-TV on Facebook. Follow the conversation @WBBZ on Twitter.