Christmas became shockingly dark for ABC News earlier this week when one of their own died at the age of 37.
According to a note sent to staff by ABC News President Kim Godwin, executive producer Dax Tejera died “suddenly of a heart attack” on December 23.
The news was delivered “with a heavy heart and great sadness,” according to the letter.
“As executive producer of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” Dax’s energy, passion, and love for the show, ABC News, and you shone every Sunday morning,” the note continued. “That same love was extended to his beautiful daughters.”
Tejera leaves behind his wife, Veronica, and two young daughters; Godwin expressed his condolences to them and the rest of the Tejera family.
“”We will share more details in the coming days,” Godwin’s note added, along with a sobering reminder: “On this Christmas Eve, hug your loved ones a little tighter. Please lean on one another.”
According to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, Tejera began working at ABC in 2017.
Around Christmas two years ago, CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski revealed that his 9-month-old daughter Francesca died on Christmas Eve. She was diagnosed with a “extremely rare and aggressive rhabdoid brain tumour.” Kaczynski is married to Rachel Louise Ensign, a Wall Street Journal reporter.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beautiful daughter Francesca died last night in the arms of her mother and father,” Kaczynski said at the time. “We’ll always have a Bean-sized void in our hearts for her. We are eternally grateful to have known her love. Francesca, you are adored.”
Talia Davida Kaczynski is the couple’s second daughter.
“She was given the Hebrew name Beans after her older sister. We adore her without end “At the time, Kaczynski stated.