John Saunders Death: What happened to the John Sanders?

John Saunders, an on-air fixture at ESPN and ABC for four decades, is dead. He was 61.

Saunders’ death was announced by colleague Hannah Storm during a Wednesday morning edition of SportsCenter. He died Aug. 10, 2016, from a combination of ailments aggravated by a heart attack.

“John had an exceptional talent, and his cheerful, informed attitude has provided a warm greeting to sports fans for decades,” ESPN president John Skipper said in a statement. His extensive list of victories in a variety of sports and championship events is among the most spectacular in this industry’s history.

Saunders joined ESPN in 1986 and worked as a studio presenter as well as a play-by-play commentator for a number of sports, including college football, basketball, and the NHL. He also hosted “The Sports Reporters,” a Sunday morning classic.

Saunders is survived by his wife Wanda and daughters Aleah and Jenna.