Jay LaMonica, a longtime network producer who spent 15 years at ABC News and most recently, Al Jazeera America, died Sunday night. AJAM president Kate O’Brian announced the news in an email to staff Monday.
“Jay touched everyone he met. He was a good friend, a mentor to his colleagues, and a role model for young journalists,” O’Brian wrote. “He was an inspiration for everyone who knew him. But perhaps what we will remember most vividly about Jay was the joy and love he had for his family and his friends.”
At AJAM, LaMonica executive produced the network’s America Tonight newscast.
So sorry to hear of the passing of former ABCNews producer Jay LaMonica, a gifted newsman and even better human. RIP pic.twitter.com/WMzYcKDpuS
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 14, 2016
Jay LaMonica, the most compassionate colleague & talented journalist you could imagine, has passed. Condolences to his loving family.
— Chris Bury (@ChrisBuryNews) March 14, 2016
Here’s the full Al Jazeera memo:
From: Kate O’Brian
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 11:02 AM
To: AJAM-All
Subject: Jay LaMonicaI am writing to share some sad news. Last night our colleague and dear friend Jay LaMonica passed away.
Jay’s journalism career spanned decades and garnered multiple awards, including nine Emmys, a DuPont, a Peabody, a Murrow, and many more. Jay started in the media business working for ABC News in 1979 and spent the majority of his time there as a producer for ABC News Nightline. He also produced documentaries for Discovery Channel and produced for PBS Newshour. Jay joined Al Jazeera America at launch as an executive producer for America Tonight. Jay’s deep experience in journalism and gift for storytelling helped create and sustain our nightly magazine program known for high quality pieces and compelling subject matter. Over his career Jay worked with the greats in our business; Ted Koppel, Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings, Christiane Amanpour, and his America Tonight team, among many more.
Jay touched everyone he met. He was a good friend, a mentor to his colleagues, and a role model for young journalists. He was an inspiration for everyone who knew him. But perhaps what we will remember most vividly about Jay was the joy and love he had for his family and his friends. He reveled in his children and grandchildren¹s successes and embraced them in their challenges. He was both a cheerleader and a shoulder to lean on for his friends, who were numerous and whose numbers were growing until his last days. Papa Jay will be missed.
Our thoughts are with Jay’s wife Teresa, their children Gabriel, Anna, Laura, and Robert, and Jay and Teri’s grandchildren.