Derrick Ward, a well-liked news reporter who worked out of Washington, District of Columbia, has away. He was 62 years old.
Wednesday, January 8 was the day when NBC 4 Washington, the station where Ward worked, made the announcement of his passing.
Ward passed away on Tuesday, January 7, as a result of complications stemming from a recent cardiac arrest, according to a statement released by his family and shared with the station.
The statement went on to say that “Derrick has been an inspiration and cherished member of our family and his hometown community,” adding that he had been a reporter at News4 Washington for a long time and had previously worked at WTOP Radio. “As a prominent journalist, Derrick’s ability to relate stories, his prolific writing, his kindness, and his sense of humor impacted the lives of numerous people. He will be greatly missed by all of us, including our children and our own family.
His three children, Derrick Jr., Ian, and Marisa, are the only ones who will carry on his legacy.
At this time, we ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and we would want to express our appreciation to everyone for the outpouring of love and support that we have received. More information on the memorial service that will be held for him will be made available in the days ahead,” their statement ended.
First, Ward worked in radio, and then he moved on to other stations, including WPFW, WAMU, and WTOP.
The Iran-Contra hearings, the assault on the Pentagon on September 11, and the sniper killings in the Washington region were among the topics that he covered throughout his tenure as a journalist, according to NBC. These events changed the course of his career.
WKBW-TV in Buffalo was the location of his first job reporting in front of the camera. In 2006, he eventually made his way back to Washington, DC, where he became a member of the NBC family.
Ward spent his childhood in the District of Columbia, where he attended HD Woodson High School and then went on to study at the University of Maryland.