Deena Centofanti is a familiar and trusted face for viewers of WJBK FOX 2 in Detroit, where she has built a remarkable career as an Emmy-winning journalist and health reporter over more than two decades. While her professional life is an open book, the anchor of “The Nine” has also shared glimpses of a rich personal life, marked by a long-lasting marriage and a deep devotion to her family. Her story is not just one of career success, but of a partnership that has weathered life’s unexpected storms and the joys of raising three children.
Born on October 4, 1965, in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Hudson, Ohio, Centofanti’s journey into journalism began in 1990 at WSYX in Columbus. It was there she met the man who would become her husband, setting the stage for a love story that would unfold alongside her career. Her family, including her parents Joe and Marsha and her brother Joe, who was born deaf and has cerebral palsy, played a significant role in shaping her character. This foundation of resilience and compassion is something she has carried with her throughout both her personal and professional life.
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A Partnership Forged in Journalism
At the heart of Deena Centofanti’s family is her husband, Keith Stironek (also spelled Stiornek in some sources). The couple first met in 1990 while working together at WSYX TV in Columbus, where Keith was a production director. Over the years, their friendship blossomed into a romance, with Centofanti later reflecting, “At times there were many miles between us, but we always felt like a team”. This enduring partnership culminated in their marriage on June 16, 1996.
Keith Stironek is a media professional in his own right, serving as the Vice President of Creative Services and Programming at FOX 2. In a poignant and powerful testament to their bond, the couple recently marked their 30th wedding anniversary on June 16, 2026, in a setting they could never have anticipated—a hospital room at Detroit Receiving Hospital.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Centofanti shared that her husband was recovering from a severe and unexpected stroke. She wrote that they were “celebrating” their milestone anniversary with “a deep understanding of life’s unexpected challenges, and how our decades-long love has prepared us for this fight”. This public declaration of love and resilience offers a rare and intimate look at the couple’s unwavering commitment.
The Joy of Three Children
Deena Centofanti and Keith Stironek are the proud parents of three kids: a son named Casey and two daughters, Ellie and Sophie (also referred to as Mia in some reports). Centofanti has openly discussed the profound impact motherhood has had on her life. She became a mother for the first time in 1999 with the birth of Casey, an experience she says “introduced me to a new level of love”. She welcomed her daughters in 2002 and 2005.
Her children have been a source of inspiration, even influencing her career path. Centofanti has shared that the late nights spent researching how to raise a healthy child after becoming a mom led directly to her opportunity to become a health reporter. She describes her family life with a mix of fulfillment and humility, stating, “My three children keep me fulfilled beyond words—as they often keep me humble as well”.
As her kids have grown, Centofanti has navigated the new challenges of parenthood, including the harrowing experience in February 2023 when her son and daughter were students at Michigan State University during a campus shooting. She spoke publicly about the terror of the situation, saying, “Our little bubble of safety has been shattered”.
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Deena Centofanti’s life is a rich tapestry woven from professional achievement and personal devotion. From her chance meeting with Keith in a newsroom to celebrating three decades of marriage in the face of adversity, her story is one of partnership and perseverance. The love she has for her husband and her three children, Casey, Ellie, and Sophie, is the bedrock upon which her remarkable life is built, proving that even in the public eye, the most profound stories are often found within the walls of a loving home.
