Not unexpected, but sad nontheless:
Leroy Sievers, a National Public Radio commentator who turned his battle with cancer into a popular and touching radio and online series, has died from his disease. He was 53.
Larry Sievers covered more than a dozen wars during his time with ABC, CBS and NPR.
Sievers died Friday at his home in Maryland, NPR announced Saturday in a statement.
He was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001. In 2005, the disease returned as a brain tumor and lung cancer.
A report on his own chemotherapy treatments in February 2006 was broadcast on “Morning Edition” and prompted an enthusiastic response from the audience.
It eventually became a regular series and feature on the network’s Web site.
I’ve heard every one of his “diaries” for the past couple years, so like a lot of people, I felt like I knew him a little. Definitely one of NPR’s more interesting features.