Judd Parson obit

Good Morning America Mourns Death of Longtime Editor and Honors His ‘Lasting Legacy’ in Emotional On Air Tribute

George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan remembered Judd Parson for his “warm smile,” “easy sense of humor” and the countless colleagues he mentored over nearly 25 years at the network 

He was not on the list.

Good Morning America is mourning the loss of another longtime member of its family.

The ABC morning show ended its broadcast on Thursday, Sept. 17, with an emotional tribute to Judd Parson, a beloved editor who spent nearly 25 years working behind the scenes.

George Stephanopoulos led the tribute, as he sat on the couch with colleagues Michael Strahan, Rebecca Jarvis, Lara Spencer, Sam Champion and Ginger Zee.

“We have some sad news to share this morning about a member of our GMA family,” George Stephanopoulos told viewers. “Our editor Judd Parson has passed away.”

For nearly a quarter-century, Parson was a fixture on the show’s overnight shift, where Stephanopoulos said he edited “thousands” of stories for GMA.

“He had a warm smile, easy sense of humor and he loved to help people,” Stephanopoulos added.

Strahan said Parson’s death had prompted “so many beautiful memories” to be shared among his colleagues at ABC News, many of whom had worked with and learned from him over the years.

“Judd leaves a lasting legacy with the countless GMA producers and editors he mentored over the years,” Strahan said.

Outside of work, Parson loved cooking, golf, music and a good story, Strahan shared. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

Parson is survived by three children and five grandchildren. “We appreciate and send our best and our love to the family,” Strahan said.

The editor’s death comes just two weeks after GMA similarly ended its Sept. 3 broadcast by paying tribute to another longtime member of its team, Francisco Antonio “Fran” Saldaña, who died Aug. 29 at age 70.

Saldaña, a maintenance engineer who joined Disney and ABC News in 2017, spent more than five decades working in television. His career began in his native Dominican Republic in the early 1970s and included covering the Nicaraguan revolution as a cameraman before he eventually moved to the United States.

“Fran had an extraordinary career,” Rebecca Jarvis said during the on-air tribute, while Whit Johnson remembered him for “his curiosity, love of travel and gardening, and his humor.”

Saldaña died of congestive heart failure at his home in Newark, N.J., according to an obituary shared by Megaro Memorial Home. Beyond his work in television, he was remembered for his love of gardening, cycling, travel, food and music, as well as his “energy, savviness and dark humor.”

Saldaña is survived by his wife of 22 years, Soraida Peres; his two sons and two grandchildren, as well as an extended family and circle of friends.