Meredith Vieira’s husband Richard Cohen died aged 76 after MS Battle

Meredith Vieira and her family mourns the loss of their patriarch.

Richard Cohenveteran CBS News reporter and husband of Vieira, died Christmas Eve after a 50-year battle with multiple sclerosis, according to a Today article published January 7. He was 76.

Today host Hoda Kotb announced Cohen’s death during an episode on January 7, noting that at the time of his passing he was “surrounded by his family and love.” Co-host Savannah Guthrie also shared an update on Vieira – who anchored Today until 2011.

“She’s in really good spirits,” she said of the journalist. “She was such a beautiful and devoted wife to Richard, and he adored Meredith. And hanging out with them, they were like the most fun and entertaining, irreverent, cool couple you could hang out with.”

E! News has reached out to Vieira’s representatives for further comment.

Cohen was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 25. According to Mayo ClinicMS is “a disease that causes the breakdown of the protective covering of nerves,” and “can cause numbness, weakness, difficulty walking, vision changes, and other symptoms.”