NBC Reporter Passes Away Suddenly At 62: ‘Will Miss Him Dearly’

A beloved reporter at NBC News has died following complications from a recent health emergency, leading former colleagues to mourn their loss across the internet on Wednesday.

Derrick Ward, one of the network’s longtime Washington correspondents, passed away at age 62 following a cardiac arrest that immediately worsened. “Derrick has been an inspiration and cherished member of our family and his hometown community, as a longtime reporter at News4 Washington, and previously WTOP Radio,” Lydia Sermons, a family friend, said in a statement. “As a distinguished journalist, Derrick’s storytelling, prolific writing, warmth, and humor touched countless lives. Our children and our entire family will miss him dearly.” NBC shared that Ward began his career at D.C.-area stations WPFW, WAMU, and WTOP, where he covered everything from the Iran-Contra hearings to the attacks on 9/11. The University of Maryland graduate briefly stayed in Buffalo for his television debut on WKBW-TV before he returned to work at NBC’s Washington bureau in 2006. Ward, a native of D.C., grew up in Marshall Heights and the H Street Corridor, and as a resident, lived through the city’s race riots of 1968 and documented some of his childhood experiences as part of NBC’s 40th-anniversary coverage.

With an eye for human interest pieces, Ward finished his career filing several honorable reports on residents facing crises in the Washington area. Among them: a burning D.C. building, a mother honoring her late son who she lost to addiction, and the US Senate, the Daily Mail reported. Besides his lifelong love of reporting, Ward was an avid guitarist who performed on stage. His final story was submitted on December 27th. Colleagues rushed to social media to share their memories and pay tribute to a friend whose life was cut short too soon. Fellow NBC Washington reporter Mark Segraves wrote on X, “Heartbroken at the loss of a great friend and colleague. @DerrickWard4 was a brilliant writer and journalist who loved reporting on his hometown. Derrick was also a fabulous musician. R-I-P brother, we’ll take it from here.”

Investigative reporter for the outlet, Tracee Wilkins, remembered Ward as an indefatigable friend in the break room. “My heart is broken by the loss of my friend. Derrick greeted everyone with a welcoming smile and a warm laugh. He was a dedicated dad, a wonderful colleague, a stellar journalist, and a gifted guitar player. Prayers to his children and loving family,” she wrote online. Fellow NBC reporter Paul Wagner shared another memory of their time together, writing, “Derrick and I worked together @WTOP in the late 90’s and later crossed paths for many years as we reported in the city. His greeting of ‘Hey Wags’ always made me smile. In the last 4 years @nbcwashington I had a front row seat to his talented and beautiful story telling.” NBC reporter Aimee Cho wrote, “Just heartbroken over the loss of our beloved friend & colleague Derrick Ward. He was always so nice to me and everyone he met. I loved shadowing him when I was an intern, and learned so much about writing, history, and life from him. We love you, Derrick.”

Derrick and I worked together @WTOP in the late 90’s and later crossed paths for many years as we reported in the city. His greeting of “Hey Wags” always made me smile. In the last 4 years @nbcwashington I had a front row seat to his talented and beautiful story telling. https://t.co/zhcnKTzS7J

— Paul Wagner (@paulcwagner) January 8, 2025