It is a somber day over at NBC studios today, with Today Show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Carson Daly paying tribute to former NBC correspondent David Bloom, on the 20th anniversary of his passing.
David was a war correspondent for the network, who passed away in 2003 while on assignment in Iraq. Aged 39, he was traveling through Baghdad when he collapsed after a blood clot that traveled to his lungs caused a fatal pulmonary embolism, a result of a condition known as deep vein thrombosis.
He left behind his wife Melanie – who has since remarried to "an awesome guy named Dan," says Today anchor Peter Alexander – and his three daughters, twins Christine and Nicole Bloom, 29, and their sister, Ava Bloom, 23. They were nine and three years old when their father passed away.
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"[It's] hard to believe it's been 20 years since our beloved and brave colleague David Bloom passed away, he died way too young," said Savannah, as she introduced a special tribute interview between her colleague Peter and the three Bloom daughters.
The three recalled the very last message they received from their dad, which came to them within 24 hours of his untimely passing.
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Nicole revealed he told them: "So when you're missing me as I am missing you, remember to say a prayer for all the other boys and girls who are missing their mommies and daddies, too.
© Getty"And yes, my dear sweet girls, when I'm a little bit scared, I promise you I will remember you and your mom, and I will know in my heart just how much you love me to the moon and back, right? Love, daddy."
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The three also shared some of the mementos from their father they now treasure, which include a bottle of sand from near where their father died, brought to them by his former NBC soundman, Bobby Lapp.
© GettyDuring their Today interview, Christine, Nicole, Ava and their mom Melanie also got to see David's "Bloomobile," his "dream" one-of-a-kind vehicle he helped design to help him report back to Today viewers from abroad.
Hoda also recalled receiving the difficult news about David's passing, while she herself was working for Today from Northern Turkey, and said: "They all told us [Today reporters working abroad] about David's passing, it was so jarring, I've never had that emotion before."
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