August 8, 2005: Four months after announcing that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer on April 5, 2005, Peter Jennings died at his home on August 7, 2005.
Known for his dashing good looks and intense curiousity about life and the world, Peter Jennings has also been described as a man who loved talking to children and who was kind, generous, witty, loyal, a good friend, and that he had a great sense of humor. Aaron Brown said that Jennings tried to understand and not to judge.
Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings was born on July 29, 1938 in Toronto, Canada. He died in Manhattan on August 7, 2005 at age 67 from lung cancer.
Ages at Wedding:
Peter was 59, and Kayce was in her mid-30s.
Education:
Although Peter attended Carleton University in Ontario and Rider College in New Jersey, he never graduated from high school or college.Kayce graduated in 1976 from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
Peter was a television newscaster, author, and the chief anchor and senior editor of ABC's "World News Tonight" since 1983. Peter won 16 Emmys and many other awards. With Todd Brewster, he authored the book, "The Century" in 1998.
Kayce has been a producer for the television show "20/20" and a freelancer.
Peter's two children have triple citizenship: British, Canadian, and American.
- Son, Christopher, born in 1982 in Britain. Kati Marton is his mother.
- Daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1980 in Britain. Kati Marton is her mother.
Peter had a great love of jazz music, sailing, and tennis. He volunteered at a soup kitchen, and gave away a fortune to many charities.
Residence:
Peter and Kayce lived in an apartment in Manhattan.Peter was married three times prior to his marriage with Kayce.
- Valerie Godsoe of Toronto, Canada. Their marriage ended in divorce.
- Anouchka "Annie" Malouf, marriage ended in divorce.
- Kati Marton, born on February 4, 1956 in Budapest, Hungary. She is an actress and journalist. Her marriage to Peter Jennings was her second marriage. She was previously married to Carroll Wetzel for 3 years.
- Kati and Peter met in London in 1977 and were engaged after three dates. They married in 1979 and divorced in April, 1994. Their marriage was described as often turbulent. They separated from one another in 1987 for five months after Peter learned of her affair with columnist Richard Cohen.
Kati is now married to former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.
She is the author of "Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages that Shaped Our Recent History."
Although still maintaining his Canadian citizenship, Peter Jennings became an American citizen on May 30, 2003.
Quotes:
Kayce and Peter's children after his death: "Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he'd lived a good life."Source: ABC News
Lauren Bacall, playfully
mocking Jennings for his four marriages, September, 2003: "You and 'World News Tonight' have
been wed for 20 years. I'm so happy you're getting
the hang of it."
Source: Reno Gazette
Peter, about his separation from Kati Marton: "Last year, it is no secret, my wife and I went through some difficulties, and it was on the front pages of the goddamn newspapers. It was horrible. Worst thing that ever happened to me. Worst thing that ever happened to me."
Source: "Why Peter Jennings Is So Good" by Charles Kenney, Globe Staff, The Boston Globe, 11-06-1988.
