Late ESPN Reporter Edward Aschoff's Fiancée Breaks Her Silence on His Death: 'He Loved People'

Benjamin VanHoose

Katy Berteau — the fiancée of ESPN reporter Edward Aschoff, who died suddenly on his 34th birthday earlier this week — is opening up about her last days with him.

In an emotional series of posts on Thursday, Berteau took over her late partner’s Twitter and Instagram accounts to express her love and gratitude for Aschoff and fans who extended their support. She also, with each message, shared another photo that showed the journalist in his everyday life.

“I want to say thank you to everyone who has expressed their sympathies, condolences, and prayers for me and his family and friends,” she wrote.

Aschoff, an on-air reporter for ESPN who covered college football, died on Tuesday following a recent bout with pneumonia. He was set to tie the knot with Berteau in April.

“The outpouring of love, admiration, and gratitude for his life have been so incredible, and have helped me through these last few days,” continued Berteau. “It has brought me brief moments of joy in this darkness to see all the pictures, videos, and memories of all the lives he touched.”

RELATED: ESPN College Football Reporter Dies on 34th Birthday After Recently Contracting Pneumonia

View this post on Instagram

Hey y’all, this is Katy, Edward’s fiancé. Firstly, I want to say thank you to everyone who has expressed their sympathies, condolences, and prayers for me and his family and friends. The outpouring of love, admiration, and gratitude for his life have been so incredible, and have helped me through these last few days. It has brought me brief moments of joy in this darkness to see all the pictures, videos, and memories of all the lives he touched. I couldn’t be more proud that the one thing people are talking about most was his ability to lift them up with his energy, light, and that all-encompassing smile. I also want to take this opportunity to provide more clarity about his passing. As a journalist, it was of the utmost importance to him that stories be accurate. Edward was admitted to the hospital a week after our first visit to the ER, where he was diagnosed with multi focal pneumonia. After failed antibiotic treatment, with worsening of symptoms, we took him back to the ER and he was immediately admitted. After many tests, including bone marrow and lung biopsies, treatment was started for a presumed diagnosis of HLH, which is an unregulated, over-activation of the immune system that causes it to attack itself and other healthy tissues. Within three days of being moved into the ICU, he passed. I want to share the brightness that he showed, even up until the last day he was awake. He kept the doctors and nurses constantly laughing, and always made a point to thank them and tell them what a great job they were doing. He also loved Christmas so much that even from the ICU he was coordinating with my friend about wrapping my presents so I could be surprised. He loved people with his entire being. We are still working on the details for his services, but there will be a small memorial in Oxford, MS, and a main service will be held in Atlanta, GA. I will share details as soon as I can. Thank you all again for loving him as much as he loved you.

A post shared by Edward Aschoff | ESPN (@ecaschoff) on Dec 26, 2019 at 4:45pm PST

 

Berteau went on to say how “proud” she is that her fiancé is being remembered for his positive contributions on society and the people he interacted with. The purpose of issuing a statement, she said, was also to clear up and explain the details surrounding his sudden passing.

This month, Aschoff’s health landed him in the emergency room and admittance to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with multifocal pneumonia, a more progressed, widespread lung infection.

Doctors prescribed antibiotic treatment that didn’t reverse the reporter’s worsening symptoms, Berteau said. After several medical tests, Aschoff found out he had HLH, or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare condition that causes the immune system to harm itself.

Within three days of being sent to the intensive care unit, she said, Aschoff died.

RELATED: Dog the Bounty Hunter‘s Duane Chapman Spends First Christmas Since Wife Beth’s Death with Kids

“I want to share the brightness that he showed, even up until the last day he was awake,” wrote Berteau. “He kept the doctors and nurses constantly laughing, and always made a point to thank them and tell them what a great job they were doing.”

The grieving fiancée said Aschoff was, even in his hospital bed, coordinating with friends to wrap his gifts for Berteau, looking forward to spending the holiday with his loved one.

“He loved people with his entire being,” Berteau wrote.

She added, sharing a picture of herself getting down on one knee to propose to Aschoff, “Thank you all again for loving him as much as he loved you.”

In his final Instagram post, shared on Dec. 4, Aschoff described having pneumonia as the “absolute worst,” and thanked his fiancée for helping him through the difficult illness.

“Having pneumonia is pretty terrible. Like the absolute worst,” he captioned a photo of Berteau. “But it helps having this sweet angel taking care of you even when she’s risking getting this soul-crushing illness herself.”

He continued: “All the soup, tea and delicious meals have kept me from crawling into a corner and crying the days away. Love you, babe. Thanks for putting up with my 5 am coughing fits @katybert #wcw.”