'Today' Co-Host Sheinelle Jones' Husband Uche Ojeh Dies at 45 of Aggressive Brain Cancer
The father of three had been in treatment for glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer
News of his death was shared during the May 23 broadcast of Today — though Jones has been absent from the NBC morning news show since mid-DecemberUche Ojeh, the husband of Today co-host Sheinelle Jones, has died after being diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 45.
The "heartbreaking" news was announced "with profound sadness" by Jones' Today co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer and Jenna Bush Hager on Friday, May 23 during the NBC morning show's live broadcast.
Ojeh, whose full name was Uchechukwuka Adenola Ojeh, and Jones were married for 18 years and share three children: son Kayin, 15, and fraternal twins Clara and Uche, 12.
"There are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children," said Guthrie. "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," added Melvin, who was close friends with Ojeh. "He was that dad that was on the sideline of every soccer game. He was at all of the concerts and the recitals. He was that guy."
Jones shared a video of the segment on Instagram with the caption: "Thank you, for all of your love and support. ❤️"
Jones, 47, has been absent from the Today show since mid-December. She first joined the network in 2014 and has been a constant across all of Today's programming, including co-hosting 3rd Hour of Today alongside Roker, Melvin and Dreyer.
The journalist addressed her absence in an Instagram post on Jan. 15, explaining that she was "time to deal with a family health matter."
"I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I've been absent from the show," she wrote. "It's not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me. I'll see you soon."
Though Jones didn't share specific details about her "family health matter," an insider told PEOPLE the situation was "serious" but didn't concern Jones or their children.
"Sheinelle appreciates the support she's received from fans and viewers in her absence," the source said. "She's especially grateful for her tight-knit Today show family and co-hosts, for all their love during a sensitive time."
Ojeh was born on Feb. 4, 1980. He first met Jones at Northwestern University in the late '90s, she — then a freshman — offered to show him, a visiting high school senior, around campus.
He'd go on to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science from the prestigious university with an economics concentration in 2001. Since 2008, he worked a managing partner at UAO Consulting, though previously consulted for IBM and Accenture
After eight years of dating long distance, Ojeh proposed on their alma mater's campus where they fell in love in the middle of a rainstorm.
The couple married in her hometown of Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 2007. They welcomed their first son, Kayin, in August 2009 and later expanded their family with fraternal twins, Clara and Uche, in July 2012.
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Embracing family time was their top priority, as Jones said in 2019 during Today's streaming special, Holidays in My House: "My kids are happy and it's what's most important to me. There may be a pile of laundry in the corner, but I'm so happy that I wasn't so worried about the laundry that I didn't miss the moment in front of me."
She echoed those sentiments in a birthday post for Ojeh in 2023, reflecting on all they've been through together.
"Happy birthday Uche," she wrote in a slideshow of their memories together. "To think it all started right here at Northwestern...25 years ago. Then marriage a decade later. Then baby #1, then #2 & #3, moving to NYC, and 10,000 games, music and dance lessons later ... We're just getting started."
Friday's broadcast ofToday included a touching video package to Ojeh.
"He was her perfect match; a man whose joyful spirit and quiet strength complemented Sheinelle in every way," Guthrie said, in the pre-recorded piece. "Uche was the kind of person who brought life, warm and joy to every room."
"Family, friends, and his deep and abiding faith were always his true north," she added. "He was an enthusiastic soccer player, sang in his church choir and was devoted to his Nigerian heritage, instilling in their children a deep connection to his cultural roots."
"Today with heavy hearts we celebrate his life. Devoted husband, loving father and a man whose generosity of spirit touched all who knew him."
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