The brother of NBC4 helicopter reporter Eliana Moreno, who died in a crash last week, shared a heartfelt tribute to his sister on social media, recalling her first job, first car and some of the early experiences that helped launch her career in journalism.
In a post on X, Johan Moreno shared how Eliana began working at 16 as a hostess at Coco’s Restaurant. She would bring home a pie every day because, as he put it, “Eliana famously loved free food.”
“We got so sick of eating pies,” he wrote.
She later worked as a receptionist at the family’s dentist office and saved enough money to buy her first car, a used 1999 Oldsmobile Alero she found in an Auto Trader book.
That car would eventually carry Eliana and her brother to Morongo Casino, where KCBS was holding a “Sports reporter for a day” contest, he said.
“I went with her that day and the car was starting to overheat by the time we reached the casino,” he wrote. “There were over 1,000 people in line, and she won!”
Her brother said the experience reflected the way Eliana built her career — taking every opportunity she could and working her way up from the beginning.
“In a world where there is so much nepotism, especially in the world of news and media, Eliana truly worked her way from the very bottom,” he wrote. “She took every opportunity she could no matter how small it was. Nothing was ever beneath her.”
Her early reporting also kept her close to home in Orange County, where she covered Irvine, Garden Grove and Orange local news reports.
“She was always excited about reporting about our home: Orange County,” he wrote.
Even after graduating from Chapman University, Eliana returned to Santa Ana College to participate in its news program. It was there, her brother said, that she met a veteran aerial journalist who gave a young reporter an opportunity and brought her on as an intern.
He ended his message by thanking those who have reached out to the family in the days since the crash.
“My family appreciates all the well wishes and prayers we have received as we go through this tragic time in our lives,” he wrote. “We love you all.”
Eliana and her pilot, George Marciniw, were killed last Tuesday while on the job. They were above the scene of a fatal Metro bus crash when their helicopter plunged to the ground.