Former KOMO 4 photographer Peter Mongillo remembered as a master storyteller
Sep 15, 2026, 12:01 PM
Michelle Esteban and Peter Mongillo. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Esteban)
(Photo courtesy of Michelle Esteban)
Former KOMO 4 photographer Peter Mongillo has died after a battle with esophageal cancer. He passed away over the weekend with his daughters at his side.
Mongillo spent much of his career at KOMO, where he was known not just for his sharp eye behind the camera, but for his big heart and his gift for storytelling. Colleagues remember him as a dedicated journalist, a trusted teammate and, above all, an all‑around great guy.
KOMO reporter and anchor Michelle Esteban, a close friend and one of Mongillo’s favorite reporters to work with, shared her memories of him:
“In the end, as he was fighting cancer, he was storytelling, and he told his story so profoundly, and so personally, and so honestly, and it was just so Peter,” Esteban said.
Later in his career, Mongillo left KOMO to join Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue, a job he treasured. There, he continued to tell stories and serve the public, bringing the same passion, professionalism and warmth that defined his years in television news.
Esteban said that commitment to people and to the community is what she’ll remember most:
“He was so devoted to his children, so devoted to his job, so devoted to his friends. It’s just remarkable the guy he was,” Esteban said.
Mongillo leaves behind two daughters, his family, and many friends. Today, journalists and news professionals across western Washington are mourning the loss of one of the good guys — a consummate storyteller who made every assignment, and every life he touched, a little bit better.
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