Uche Ojeh, the husband of Today co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away. He was 45. His passing was the result of a diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
On Friday, May 23, during Today’s live broadcast, the shocking news was announced by Today co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, and Jenna Bush Hager.
“There are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children,” Guthrie shared. “Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. … We just want to say Sheinelle, Kayin, Uche, and Clara and the Ojeh family: we are with you, we love you. You are our family, and we’re just sending all of our love to you right now.”
“He loved those kids more than anything else in this world, and was just so proud,” Melvin added, who was close friends with Ojeh. “He was that dad that was on the sidelines of every soccer game. He was at all of the concerts and the recitals. He was that guy.”
Guthrie spoke about how Uche’s faith empowered him through his diagnosis and treatment.
“Uche had a beautiful, deep, abiding faith every single day of this fight and you could see it in his eyes. He was an extraordinary person,” she said. “And we love him and we love you, Sheinelle.”
She then paid tribute to the strength of Sheinelle in her most difficult time.
“Sheinelle is a warrior and Uche was a warrior. She has risen to the occasion and then some,” Guthrie continued
“We’re with you, we love you,” said Melvin
Uche and Sheinelle were college sweethearts, where they met at Northwestern University in the late 1990s. As an 18-year-old freshman, Sheinelle gave Uche, a high-school senior on a college visit, a tour of the campus. After being together for eight years, Uche popped the question on the campus of their alma mater.
In September 2007, the couple were married in Philadelphia, Sheinelle’s hometown.
Along with Sheinelle, Uche is survived by their oldest son, Kayin, twins, son Uche, and daughter Clara.
We at WBLS extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Uche Ojeh.