José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of the Telemundo stations in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers, died on Wednesday in a helicopter accident in Kenya. He was 55 years old and had a career spanning more than two decades in American television.
The death of the executive, of Cuban roots, was confirmed by the network itself and provoked numerous expressions of sorrow among colleagues and professionals in Hispanic journalism in Florida, where he developed much of his career.
According to Telemundo 51, the accident occurred in Samburu County, near Mount Ololokwe, when the helicopter he was traveling in—a Eurocopter EC130 B4—crashed at around 9:13 AM local time while making a journey from the Loisaba private reserve to Ewaso Nyiro.
Suárez was identified as one of the four Americans who passed away. The Kenyan Red Cross reported that the search and rescue efforts were hampered by the difficult terrain and a fire that broke out at the site where the aircraft crashed. Due to the complexity of the operation, it was necessary to send an additional team from Isiolo to reinforce the emergency tasks, reported NBC News.
The U.S. State Department later confirmed that four of the seven victims were American citizens and noted that the U.S. Embassy is in contact with local authorities to provide consular assistance. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones for their loss," a spokesperson stated.
Among the deceased were also identified Michele Sensi-Contugi Ycaza, the director general of the National Intelligence Center of Ecuador and a close associate of President Daniel Noboa, along with his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vásconez. The Ecuadorian official was 44 years old and held dual nationality, Ecuadorian and Italian. The identities of the other victims had not been publicly confirmed at the time this note was written.
"An exceptional colleague and a mentor to many."
The news caused shock within Telemundo and NBCUniversal.
In a joint statement, César Conde, president of NBCU News Group; Valari Staab, president of NBCU Local; and José Cancela, president of Telemundo Station Group, expressed their sorrow over the loss of the executive.
“With deep sorrow, we share the tragic news that José Suárez, president and general manager of the Telemundo owned stations in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers, lost his life in a helicopter accident in Kenya,” they expressed.
The executives described him as "an exceptional colleague and a mentor to many" and emphasized that he brought "energy, a sense of humor, warmth, and a strong sense of purpose to his work."
"Its impact extended far beyond the stations it led," they added.
Suárez had over 25 years of experience in the media, 18 of which were associated with Telemundo and NBC.
Originally from Florida, before taking on the presidency and general management of the three stations he oversaw until his death, he was in charge of Telemundo 33, Telemundo Fresno, Telemundo Las Vegas, Telemundo Utah, and Telemundo San Antonio.
He also worked for nearly four years at NBC Miami as the director of creative services and programming, and previously served as the executive producer of entertainment programs.
His professional career was recognized with a Lone Star Emmy, a Suncoast Emmy, three Emmy Awards for Best Daily News Program, and several awards from the Associated Press.
Among the reactions to his death was that of the Cuban journalist Javier Díaz, who publicly remembered the role Suárez played in his career after emigrating from Cuba.
Díaz also revealed the Cuban roots of the executive and shared that it was Suárez who gave him his first opportunity in U.S. television.
«The day has turned sad. José Suárez passed away in a plane accident. Friends, this man offered me my first job in television in Texas after I emigrated from Cuba,» wrote the journalist on his social media.
The professional relationship between the two remained strong over the years. Díaz recalled that they were able to reunite last year during the Emmy Awards gala.
"During his career, he supported many professionals and he grew as an executive at Telemundo. To his family, my sincerest condolences," he expressed.
The testimony reflects one of the aspects that his colleagues emphasized after the tragedy became known: his role as a mentor and promoter of other professionals within Hispanic television in the United States.
Suárez's death represents a loss for a media community that has been closely connected for decades to the Cuban and Latin American diaspora in Florida.
Telemundo announced that in the coming days it will reveal how it will honor the life and legacy of José Alberto Suárez.
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