WOAI-TV's news couple
She’s now part of the city’s only husband-and-wife team on local TV.
Claudia Garofalo replaced recently promoted KABB morning anchor Jessica Headley last week as traffic reporter for WOAI and KABB. Garofalo now guides viewers on their morning commute on both “News 4 San Antonio Today” from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and “Fox News First” from 5 to 9 a.m.
On WOAI’s early show, she was treated to a bonus. Or is it a hazard? She now works alongside her husband, Michael Garofalo, who co-anchors “San Antonio Today” with Leslie Bohl.
“Working with Michael is awesome,” Claudia wrote in a message. “It is definitely funny when we are on the set together because he will blush and turn red when he is tossing (to) me, but then he’ll give me an eye wink when he can.”
The only other S.A. TV spouses who were part of the same news team — at least that I can remember — were Fred Lozano and Kelly Chapman on KENS in the 1980s.
But back to Claudia. . .She wed Garofalo less than two years ago. WOAI announced the news amid lots of fanfare on the air — complete with roses and a romantic serenade by a guitarist-singer. The new bride was still part of radio’s Y100’s morning team at the time.
Has the romance waned a bit — particularly now that they both have to crawl out of bed way before dawn and go to the same workplace?
“It is a blessing to be doing what we love together,” Claudia said. However, she also mentioned a ritual that makes preparing for the job rather tricky.
“Sharing the bathroom early morning as we are getting ready for work is interesting,” Claudia said. “We annoy each other very fast!”
Claudia, who also will continue her role as an on-air contributor to WOAI’s lifestyle program, “San Antonio Living,” picked up the new traffic duty pretty quickly, she said. “I started off doing traffic on the Y100 morning show two years ago,” she said.
Besides, the Del Rio native, added, “learning the maps was not difficult because San Antonio has been my home for a long time, so I know the city well.”
Claudia came to her marriage to Michael with a daughter, whom they both adore: Avah, who’s now 5.
“It is tough leaving so early and not being there when she wakes up,” Claudia said.
“But the schedule has its perks,” she added. “I am always there when she gets off school and am usually available to attend classroom functions and field trips that another schedule would not allow.”
Photo: WOAI