Former Alabama news anchor dies after battle with leukemia

A former Alabama news anchor who worked at stations in Huntsville and Birmingham has died after battling acute myeloid leukemia.

Melissa Riopka died on Saturday, according to a report from WHNT 19 in Huntsville. She was 48 years old.

“This week I was driving through Cullman and thinking about my old friend. I wondered how she was doing, thought about the time we spent together over the years and never thought she would be gone Saturday,” Jason Simpson, who worked with Riopka in Huntsville and is now chief meteorologist at WVTM 13 in Birmingham, wrote in a Facebook post. “Melissa was a bright spot. There's no doubt about that. She always encouraged even when she was discouraged herself. She sacrificed for her family who loved her very much and now she can rest in peace.”

A native of Cullman, Riopka attended the University of Alabama and worked at stations in Chattanooga and Birmingham before coming to Huntsville. She started as a morning reporter at News 19 in Huntsville in 2013 before being promoted to co-anchor of the weekday 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. newscasts in 2015, working with longtime News 19 anchor Jerry Hayes. She later worked with News 19's Steve Johnson on the morning newscast.

According to News 19, she worked with numerous community groups, including the Better Business Bureau and Make-a-Wish.

Riopka left the station on March 22. She leaves behind her husband and two children.