Al Roker and Daughter Courtney Share Heartfelt Truth About Alice Bell’s Passing

For months, Al Roker and his daughter Courtney Roker Laga held their grief close, choosing silence over speculation following the death of Alice Bell, Al’s first wife and Courtney’s beloved mother. Bell, a former WNBC producer who shunned the spotlight, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, at age 77. Her death, initially shrouded in mystery, left fans of the Today show weatherman and those who admired Bell’s quiet resilience yearning for answers. In a poignant segment on Today, Al and Courtney broke their silence, revealing that Bell had battled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with remarkable grace, a private struggle that defined her final years.

Alice Bell’s life was one of understated strength. A UCLA graduate, she carved a path in television production at WNBC, where she met Al Roker. The two married in 1984, welcoming Courtney in 1987 through adoption. Though their marriage ended in 1994, Bell and Roker maintained a respectful co-parenting relationship, united by their love for Courtney. Bell’s low-profile existence belied her impact; she was a devoted mother and, later, a doting grandmother to Courtney’s daughter, Sky, born in 2023. Her recent photos, showing her with an oxygen tube, hinted at health challenges, but the family guarded her privacy until now.

On Today, Al’s voice trembled as he shared Bell’s journey with COPD, a progressive lung disease often linked to long-term exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke or pollutants. Bell, a non-smoker, likely developed the condition due to environmental factors from her years in urban settings, compounded by a genetic predisposition. “Alice never wanted pity,” Al said, his eyes glistening. “She faced every doctor’s visit, every breath that came harder than the last, with this quiet courage that humbled us.” COPD, which obstructs airflow and causes symptoms like persistent coughing and shortness of breath, gradually diminished Bell’s energy, but not her spirit. She continued to cherish moments with Sky, reading stories and sharing wisdom, even as oxygen tanks became her constant companion.

Courtney, visibly emotional, described her mother as “my heart, my rock.” She recounted how Bell insisted on normalcy, hosting family dinners and laughing through pain. “Mom taught me love isn’t just in the big moments—it’s in the quiet ones, like holding hands when words aren’t enough,” she said. The Today segment included a montage of Bell’s life: her wedding to Al, cradling baby Courtney, and a recent photo of her beaming beside Sky. The images underscored a truth—Bell’s legacy was love, unbroken by divorce or illness.

Al and Courtney’s openness wasn’t just about revealing COPD as the cause of Bell’s death; it was a tribute to her resilience and a call to cherish family. Al spoke of forgiveness, noting how their blended family— including his wife Deborah Roberts, Courtney’s stepmother—rallied around Bell. “We weren’t perfect, but we were family,” he said. Courtney echoed this, thanking Roberts for embracing her mother’s memory.

The segment closed with a message of hope. Al urged viewers to seek early diagnosis for respiratory issues, citing COPD’s treatability with proper care. Courtney added, “Mom’s love still guides us. We’re sharing her story so others know they’re not alone.” As the Today studio fell silent, viewers felt the weight of a family’s grief—and the enduring bond that even death couldn’t break.