NBC News employees spent Thursday and Friday mourning the death of longtime audio technician Larry Edgeworth after he died from complications related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Edgeworth's wife, Crystal, told NBC News that the 61-year-old had other health issues and died on Thursday after testing positive for the virus.
The audio technician spent more than 25 years traveling the world as an audio technician for the news outlet before transferring to a position in the equipment room at NBC News' 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters in New York.
"As we have heard from medical professionals, those with underlying health concerns are sadly the most vulnerable. Many of you were fortunate enough to work with Larry over the years, so you know that he was the guy you wanted by your side no matter where you were," NBC News Chairman Andy Lack wrote in an email to the company's employees Friday morning.
"We are doing everything we can to support his family during this very difficult time," he added.
Stacy Brady, NBCUniversal's executive vice president of field and production operations, called Edgeworth a "gentle giant who would give you the shirt off his back."
He spent decades working with NBC's top on-air talent, like Joy Reid, Tom Winter, Garrett Haake, Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and Andrea Mitchell, NBC News' chief foreign affairs correspondent.
Devastated. Larry was the guy. This was my DUDE in Sanford covering Trayvon's murder & in so many places traveling to cover stories for @MSNBC. Just a lovable, hilarious, brilliant guy. Take coronavirus seriously please and damn that virus to Hell. https://t.co/i0f32d9sC8
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 20, 2020
This one really hurts. I worked with Larry for a few years in the field, and after we both had health scares, every time we saw each other we’d talk about staying alive for our families. He was a really good Brother. Damn. https://t.co/fZkOaRk9Ed
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) March 20, 2020
He was a devoted father to two, a husband, and a friend.
We're less of a place without his smile and talent.
Story from https://t.co/lyHYHpjT7W
https://t.co/grCtQeWy8V— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) March 20, 2020
"Larry was a gentle bear of a man, the heart and soul of our extended NBC family. I was always cheered and reassured knowing he was on the team in the field. He always had my back whether here in the U.S. or in the most dangerous situations around the world," Mitchell said.
During a segment on Friday, Mitchell broke down on air as she described Edgeworth's life and work.
"My heart breaks this morning at the loss of NBC audio technician Larry Edgeworth (pictured right) due to COVID19. I adored Larry. We traveled together for two straight months on a campaign in 2008 and he was always the most warm, most professional, most loving," Guthrie wrote.
"All hours of the day and night, no matter how hungry or tired or stressed we were – he was always a joy. He loved his work and excelled at it. He loved his colleagues and boy did we love him. Larry, dear, I will miss you. My deepest condolences and prayers to his family," she added.
Edgeworth leaves behind his wife and two sons.
