Former WVUE morning anchor Gerry Vaillancourt died on Sunday at his home.
“Daddy died peacefully this morning, with his daughters at his side. He lived a truly amazing life and fought hard until the end,” Vaillancourt’s daughter said in a statement. “I am so grateful we were able to have a full family Thanksgiving with all the grandkids. And while it was not easy, I have some peace knowing that I was a comfort to him in his final days. Our family is devastated, but we will honor his memory by living life the way he did, with chuckles and grins, positivity and always chasing our crazy.”
After working at the New Orleans Fox affiliate, Vaillancourt went on to work as the on-air broadcaster for the Charlotte Hornets.
“The Hornets are saddened to learn of the passing of Gerry Vaillancourt,” the Hornets said in a statement. “Gerry V was a mainstay on our TV and radio broadcasts from 1990-2002, serving in roles including radio analyst, TV analyst, and TV studio host. He also hosted sports talk radio shows on several local stations throughout that time and returned to the Charlotte airwaves in that same format in 2017. His analysis and opinions will be greatly missed, and our condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.”
WVUE said he was “a special guy who was always smiling and cracking a joke in the newsroom. He was a pleasure to work with. A true professional. He will be greatly missed.”