NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans lost a beloved figure with the passing of longtime WWL-TV anchor Eric Paulsen, remembered by friends and colleagues as an iconic voice, an unwavering friend, and a heart that fully embraced the city and its people.
Paulsen’s former co-anchor, Sheba Turk, shared how Paulsen’s support guided her early career, recalling her start as his writer at just 22. “I was as feisty as him. We fought from day one,” she said. "He respected how much I stood up to him and for myself. Eric was one of the few people I could be my full self with." That unique bond turned into a lifelong friendship. “He made me feel loved and was such a good friend. I don’t think I’ve come to terms yet that he’s really gone.”
Mike Hoss, the voice of the Saints and a former colleague on the morning show, echoed her sentiments. “You’re gonna hear a whole lot of, ‘too soon, too fast,’ and it still doesn’t make sense,” he said. Working the early-morning shifts, Hoss described how Paulsen’s enduring spirit turned coworkers into family. “We’re just very close,” Hoss said. “And Eric was always the head honcho, the heartbeat of our mornings.”
Paulsen’s influence extended well beyond the newsroom. Known for his deep love of New Orleans culture, he inspired those around him to live in the moment. “Do what Eric did,” Hoss said, capturing his friend’s zest for life. “Go see live music, eat at the restaurant, live life. Don’t just talk about it.”
Reflecting on Paulsen’s impact on her journey, Turk shared that his steadfast belief in her was transformative. “There were so many times I felt unsure, and Eric was always there to say, ‘Hold on, you are absolutely ready for this,’” she remembered. His support and his example made her who she is today.
Though he leaves a profound void, Paulsen’s legacy endures in the lives he touched. "We wouldn't be here without him," Turk said, a sentiment shared by many whose paths crossed with the charismatic, iconic figure New Orleans knew simply as Eric.
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