NBC's David Bloom Mourned At St. Pat's
UPDATED: 2:22 p.m. EDT April 17, 2003
NEW YORK -- NBC News correspondent David Bloom, who died
while covering the war in Iraq, was eulogized at his funeral
Wednesday as a modern-day Ernie Pyle who had a spiritual awakening
before his death.
Video: David Bloom Remembered
Video: NBC's Tom Brokaw Delivers Eulogy
Video: Funeral Mass Homily
Video:
Bloom Funeral Procession
Video:
NBC's Tim Russert Speaks
Slideshow: David Bloom Funeral Mass
Bloom, 39, the weekend anchor of "Today" and a former White House correspondent, died of an apparent blood clot April 6 while embedded with a military unit in Iraq. Equipped with a special vehicle, called the "Bloom-mobile," that allowed NBC to transmit remarkably clear pictures of him riding atop a tank in the Iraqi def the most visible TV correspondents covering the war. "David was the Ernie Pyle of his generation," NBC anchor Tom Brokaw said, comparing his colleague to the legendary newspaperman who covered World War II. Brokaw praised Bloom's "boyish enthusiasm," storytelling ability and thirst for covering big stories. "David had a lot of great ideas -- none better than the `Bloom-mobile,' which transported him and transformed war reporting," the veteran NBC anchorman said. Bloom's funeral was at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, less than a block from his NBC News office. New York's archbishop, Cardinal Edward Egan, recalled Bloom attending Sunday Mass there after his "Today" show duties. Parts of the funeral were shown on WNBC.com, MSNBC, CNN and Fox News Channel. New York Gov. George Pataki, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, ABC anchorman Peter Jennings, CBS newsman Ed Bradley and much of NBC's on-air staff were among the mourners. Bloom is survived by his wife, Melanie, and three daughters. Also eulogized by two brothers and his best friend, Bloom was described as a man who had battled personal problems in recent years and was at peace with the prospect of dying in Iraq. Hours before he died, he wrote an e-mail to Melanie saying the experience of covering the war had transformed him, leading him to realize that nothing mattered more than his relationship with her and their daughters, said his older brother, John Bloom. He quoted Bloom's last message to his wife: "Here I am, supposedly at the peak of professional success, and I can frankly care less." A network representative said approximately 44,500 messages from the public have been received at a special e-mail address, BloomFamily@NBC.com. David Bloom Children's Trust was established by his friends for the benefit of his three young daughters. Donations in memoriam may be sent to: David Bloom Children's Trust, c/o Latham & Watkins, 885 3rd Ave., Suite 1000, New York, NY 10022. At the request of the Bloom family, donations can also be made in his memory to the Convent of the Sacred Heart, the school attended by the Bloom children, and sent to the following address: Convent of the Sacred Heart, In Memory of David Bloom, 1177 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831.
DAVID BLOOM: 1963-2003 Slideshow: Bloom FuneralVideo: Memories Of David BloomVideo: Sharing The NewsVideo: Bloom
Confronts Hurricane Looter (1992)Video: NBC's "Today" Announces Death Health: What Are Pulmonary Embolisms? Share: Thoughts, Condolences Email: Send Your Condolences To The Bloom FamilyOr Write: The Bloom Familyc/o NBC 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 Also: David Bloom Children's Trust has been established
by his friends for the benefit of his three young daughters. Donations in memoriam may be sent to: David Bloom Children's Trust c/o Latham & Watkins 885 3rd Avenue Suite 1000 New York, NY 10022 And: At the request of David's family, donations can also be made
in his memory to the "Convent of the Sacred Heart," the school attended by the Bloom children, and sent
to the following address: Convent of the Sacred Heart In Memory of David Bloom 1177 King Street Greenwich, CT 06831  Message: Neal Shapiro, NBC News Pres. David Bloom: Official NBC Biography
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Video: David Bloom RememberedVideo: NBC's Tom Brokaw Delivers EulogyVideo: Funeral Mass HomilyVideo:
Bloom Funeral ProcessionVideo:
NBC's Tim Russert SpeaksSlideshow: David Bloom Funeral Mass
Bloom, 39, the weekend anchor of "Today" and a former White House correspondent, died of an apparent blood clot April 6 while embedded with a military unit in Iraq. Equipped with a special vehicle, called the "Bloom-mobile," that allowed NBC to transmit remarkably clear pictures of him riding atop a tank in the Iraqi def the most visible TV correspondents covering the war. "David was the Ernie Pyle of his generation," NBC anchor Tom Brokaw said, comparing his colleague to the legendary newspaperman who covered World War II. Brokaw praised Bloom's "boyish enthusiasm," storytelling ability and thirst for covering big stories. "David had a lot of great ideas -- none better than the `Bloom-mobile,' which transported him and transformed war reporting," the veteran NBC anchorman said. Bloom's funeral was at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, less than a block from his NBC News office. New York's archbishop, Cardinal Edward Egan, recalled Bloom attending Sunday Mass there after his "Today" show duties. Parts of the funeral were shown on WNBC.com, MSNBC, CNN and Fox News Channel. New York Gov. George Pataki, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, ABC anchorman Peter Jennings, CBS newsman Ed Bradley and much of NBC's on-air staff were among the mourners. Bloom is survived by his wife, Melanie, and three daughters. Also eulogized by two brothers and his best friend, Bloom was described as a man who had battled personal problems in recent years and was at peace with the prospect of dying in Iraq. Hours before he died, he wrote an e-mail to Melanie saying the experience of covering the war had transformed him, leading him to realize that nothing mattered more than his relationship with her and their daughters, said his older brother, John Bloom. He quoted Bloom's last message to his wife: "Here I am, supposedly at the peak of professional success, and I can frankly care less." A network representative said approximately 44,500 messages from the public have been received at a special e-mail address, BloomFamily@NBC.com. David Bloom Children's Trust was established by his friends for the benefit of his three young daughters. Donations in memoriam may be sent to: David Bloom Children's Trust, c/o Latham & Watkins, 885 3rd Ave., Suite 1000, New York, NY 10022. At the request of the Bloom family, donations can also be made in his memory to the Convent of the Sacred Heart, the school attended by the Bloom children, and sent to the following address: Convent of the Sacred Heart, In Memory of David Bloom, 1177 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831.
Copyright 2003 by WNBC.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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