NBC newsman Vaughn Ververs, who served as deputy press secretary for Pat Buchanan’s 1992 presidential campaign before making a lasting move into political reporting, died “suddenly” Sunday at the age of 54, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reported Tuesday. Varvers is survived by his wife and three children. By all accounts he was well thought of by his colleagues for his knowledge and kindness.
“Our NBC News family has suffered a terrible loss in the sudden passing of our beloved top digital editor at Washington Vaughn Varvers, a mentor to many and a big-hearted colleague to all. Our deepest condolences to his wife Lisa and 3 children.”
Our NBC News family has suffered a terrible loss with the sudden passing of our beloved top digital editor in Washington Vaughn Ververs, a mentor to many and a big-hearted colleague to all. Our deepest condolences to his wife Lisa and 3 children https://t.co/Ku7pknfszN
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) March 21, 2023
Varvers was the editor of Hotline many years ago.
“Former Hotline editor Vaughn Ververs, 54, died Sunday. A longtime fixture of political media, Ververs was a media pioneer beloved by his colleagues, friends and subjects for his sharp news judgment, skilled editing and kind leadership.” @kirk_bado Writes pic.twitter.com/PvlPmLkLx6
– National Journal Hotline (@njhotline) March 21, 2023
Fellow reporters mourned his death:
I worked briefly with von Wervers at Politico.
At the time, he was a veteran of DC journalism and I was just starting out, having spent years covering local/state politics and government.
He was very generous with his insight and experience.
A sweet guy https://t.co/qUeb5yKbaX
– Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) March 21, 2023
All time good guy and smart political reporter. “We’ll all miss him terribly”: Andrea Mitchell remembers longtime NBC digital editor Vaughn Ververs via https://t.co/P35i0t7G8d @MSNBC
— Dante Chinni (@Dchinni) March 21, 2023
Such sad news about the death of Vaughn Varvers. I worked with him at Politico and NBC/CNBC. He was a constant, lively and intelligent presence in my newsrooms, and he’s gone far too soon. Thinking of his family today. https://t.co/UTu2ws9FM0
— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) March 21, 2023
Everything you need in the Vaughn Ververs editor. His political BS detector was strong. He was a mentor to a generation of writers.
He’s smart, funny, and most of all, a great guy.
And he loved himself @CUBoulder Buffs.
We will all miss him dearly. https://t.co/YP9Ybz06Ce— Doug Adams (@DougNBC) March 21, 2023
He doesn’t want you to realize it until he gets to know you, but Vaughn Ververs was incredibly warm and generous. We worked together for 13 years; His knowledge was limitless and he *knew everyone.* https://t.co/9mmDof6LiG
— Alex Johnson (@MAlexJohnson) March 21, 2023
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Von Wervers, a pioneer of digital political journalism. A fountain of political knowledge and history, and a straight-up good guy who mentored many through the ranks of DC newsrooms.
— David Mark (@DavidMarkDC) March 21, 2023
Mourning the loss of Vaughn Varvers…a great friend and legacy@njhotlinethank you@Michelle reports @MSNBCIn tribute to… pic.twitter.com/abBbRk4m2I
— Howard Mortman (@howardmortman) March 21, 2023
Page about Vaughn Varvers from George Mason University (via Google Cache):
Von Wervers is currently MSNBC.com’s political editor. Ververs, a senior reporter and media writer, previously served as Politico’s editor, as well as CBSnews.com’s senior political editor, responsible for daily coverage and long-term planning for the website’s political coverage.
Before joining the CBS News interactive group as editor of Public Eye in 2005, Mr. Ververs served as editor of The Hotline, Washington DC’s premier daily online political news source, and wrote a weekly column called Talking Heads on How the Press Explained. Covers Washington. While on The Hotline, Mr. Ververs was a regular guest on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal and frequently discussed campaign news and events on programs such as PBS’s The McLaughlin Group, Fox News Channel’s The O’Reilly Factor, and MSNBC’s Hardball. In addition, he appeared frequently as a political analyst on CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channels, and was a regular guest on ABC Radio’s John Batchelor Show. Prior to that, he worked with Fox News Channel as a field producer, booker, line producer and associate producer for Fox News Sunday (1997-98). He was an associate producer and researcher for the political unit of CBS News (1995-96).
Before his journalism career began, Ververs was deputy press secretary for Pat Buchanan’s presidential campaign in 1992. Ververs was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and raised in Simla, Colorado. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and three children.