Incredible Journey Ends: Battled Multiple Sclerosis for 50+ Years Before Passing at 76

Meredith Vieira’s husband, legendary journalist Richard Cohen, passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 76 after battling multiple sclerosis for more than 50 years and overcoming two cancer diagnoses. On Tuesday, January 7, the Today show revealed the news of his passing. Vieira and his three children—a 32-year-old daughter named Lily and three 36-year-old sons named Gabriel and Benjamin—were “surrounded by his family and love” at the time of his death, according to Hoda Kotb.

Kotb mentioned that they had all been together around Thanksgiving, “because they were worried that they would lose him too soon.” Rather, they spent a wonderful month with their father. Savannah Guthrie continued, “She’s in really good spirits,” referring to Vieira. Savannah Guthrie continued, “She’s in really good spirits,” referring to Vieira. Richard loved Meredith and thought she was a very lovely and loyal wife. Additionally, they were the most hip, irreverent, and enjoyable couple you could spend time with.

After being married in 1986, Cohen and Viera remained wed for 38 years. At 25, he received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, which he famously disclosed to Vieira during their second date. In 2019, he remembered to Yahoo Life, “I told her about the illness, because I sort of learned the hard way to get it on the table.” “And she really didn’t blink.” “I’ve always been of the school of thought that you could get hit by a bus the next day, any one of us could,” Vieira remarked. “It definitely wasn’t enough to frighten me away.” Rather, Vieira became into Cohen’s most ardent ally. She supported Cohen during their nearly forty years together, when he left his lengthy career as a CBS News reporter to become an advocate for people with multiple sclerosis.

The two resorted to radical honesty as well as humor to get through the difficult moments. She told PEOPLE in 2018 that “we definitely allow each other to vent.” That’s a component of the agreement. Given that he has a chronic disease, he is undoubtedly free to vent. But so am I. Because of the constraints it places on the whole family, there are days when I just can’t bear it. Saying that is a positive thing. However, we don’t stay. “You may ask yourself, ‘Why us?’ but then it’s like, ‘Why not us?'” Vieira went on. “So many people are dealing with stuff and it puts it into perspective.”

Richard Cohen and Meredith Vieira visit SiriusXM Studios in New York on May 7, 2018. Vieira will eventually have to leave her profession in broadcast journalism due to the chronic illness, which affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, among other parts of the central nervous system. She began as a co-host on The View before switching to co-anchoring Today in 2006. Before retiring in 2011 to spend more time with Cohen and their children, she continued to be involved with the program. She stated on live at the time, “Time is one of those strange things.” It simply keeps ticking away, and you can’t get enough of it. Additionally, I am aware that I would like to spend more time with my children and spouse, Richard.