Journalist Maria Mercader, 54, died after fighting coronavirus in a hospital in New York
Mercader is a longtime journalist with CBS News.
In a news release published on Sunday afternoon, CBS described Mercader as a "network veteran who covered breaking news for nearly three decades and, most recently, helped shape strategy for the network's correspondents and reporters."
Mercader had been suffering from cancer and "related illnesses" for more than 20 years. She had been on medical leave "for an unrelated matter" since the end of February, according to CBS.
After graduating from College of New Rochelle in 1987, she started working with the news division at CBS as part of the page program.
She went on to produce major coverage for CBS News' foreign and national desks. Recently, she had been serving as director of talent strategy and was "active in coordinating CBS News participation in the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and the National Association of Black Journalists," CBS states.
"Even more than her talents as a journalist, we will miss her indomitable spirit," said CBS News president and senior executive producer Susan Zirinsky.
"Maria was part of all of our lives. Even when she was hospitalized – and she knew something was going on at CBS, she would call with counsel, encouragement, and would say 'you can do this.' I called Maria a 'warrior,' she was. Maria was a gift we cherished."
In 2004, Mercader won a Business Emmy for her project on a “CBS Sunday Morning” report on computer spam.
“Maria was one of the bravest, funniest, and most supportive colleagues most of us have ever known,” said Al Ortiz, the network’s vice-president of standards and practices .
