The NBC News family is mourning alongside “Today” show co-host Sheinelle Jones after the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Uche Ojeh. He passed away at the age of 45 following a quiet but courageous battle with brain cancer.
Ojeh, a respected tech consultant and dedicated family man, died after facing glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that he had been fighting privately for some time. Sheinelle had previously stepped back from the show in December, citing a “family health matter.” On Friday, it became clear just how deep that struggle had been.
A Love That Started in College
Sheinelle and Uche’s story began at Northwestern University, where she was giving campus tours and met the man who would later become her husband. Their connection grew from friendship into something lasting. They married in 2007 and built a life together over nearly two decades. The couple had three children: their son Kayin and twins Clara and Uche Jr.
Over the years, Sheinelle often shared snippets of their life as a family on-air and through social media—little stories that reflected their bond, the chaos and joy of raising three kids, and the love that held them together.
Tributes Pour In From Friends and Colleagues
The news of Ojeh’s passing was shared on air by Savannah Guthrie, who became visibly emotional while expressing the “Today” family’s deep sorrow. “He was such a good man,” she said, “and he loved Sheinelle and those kids more than anything.”
Craig Melvin, a longtime friend of both Sheinelle and Uche, paid tribute to the kind of father Uche was. “He was there—really there—for his children. Always coaching, always encouraging, always present,” Melvin said.
Messages of love and support flooded in from NBC colleagues and beyond. Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Joy Bauer, and others shared their heartbreak and lifted Sheinelle up in public and private moments. Maria Shriver called Sheinelle “a courageous and caring wife,” and praised her strength through what she called a “beautiful but painful chapter.”
Grieving With Grace
Sheinelle took to Instagram to thank those who had reached out. Her post, filled with gratitude, included candid photos of Uche smiling with their kids, alongside a heartfelt note about how full their life was—even in the face of something so heavy. “We laughed, we cried, we prayed. We kept living. He was everything to us,” she wrote.
She didn’t dwell on the pain but instead celebrated who Uche was—a present father, a loving husband, and a humble man who gave everything to his family. “We made memories every single day,” she added.
A Legacy That Lives On
While the grief is immense, Sheinelle’s words—and those of her friends—highlight a powerful truth: Uche’s life wasn’t defined by his illness, but by how he loved.
The couple had just celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary not long ago, and by all accounts, their marriage was one marked by friendship, mutual respect, and deep devotion. “We grew up together in many ways,” Sheinelle once said in an earlier interview. “We’ve been through a lot, and we’re still here—side by side.”
Now, as Sheinelle and her children begin this next chapter, they do so carrying forward the memory of a man who lived with purpose, joy, and quiet strength.
A Family Leaning on Each Other—and on Love
The loss of Uche Ojeh is being felt not just by his immediate family, but by the larger “Today” family and audiences who have followed Sheinelle’s life over the years. It’s a reminder that behind the smiling faces on morning television are real lives, full of love, laughter, struggle—and now, profound loss.
As tributes continue to pour in, one thing is clear: Uche Ojeh’s life made a lasting impact, and his legacy lives on in his children, in Sheinelle’s heart, and in the many lives he quietly touched.
