Who was Jay Monahan? Katie Couric pays tribute to late husband on 36th wedding anniversary

Katie Couric, popularly known for hosting NBC’s Today show, paid tribute to her late husband on what would have been the couple’s 36th wedding anniversary.

Couric was married to John Paul Monahan, popularly known as Jay Monahan, who passed away in 1998. Couric and Monahan had been married for ten years before Monahan succumbed to colon cancer. The New York Times noted that Couric and Monaghan shared two daughters, Elinor and Caroline, who were six and two, respectively, at the time of Monahan’s death.

Monahan, who worked as a defence attorney, had been diagnosed with advanced-stage colon cancer at the age of 42, just 11 months before he succumbed to the illness, notes his biography on the website of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health.

As per the biography, the process after Monahan’s diagnosis was extremely troublesome for him and his wife, who struggled with finding viable treatment options for him.

In addition to being a lawyer, Monahan was also a legal analyst for channels such as CNBC, NBC News, and MSNBC, according to The New York Times. The publication noted that during his career, Monahan reported on the Unabomber trial as well as the trial of O.J. Simpson.

After Monahan passed away, Couric founded the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health with the backing of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance to help patients suffering from the illness as well as identify preventive measures.

Katie Couric’s tribute to her husband on their 36th wedding anniversary

Katie Couric penned an emotional tribute for her husband to mark the occasion of the couple’s 36th wedding anniversary on June 10. Taking to Instagram, Couric posted images from the couple’s wedding. She also shared moments from the life she shared with Jay Monahan, posting images of the couple and their children.

Alongside the images, Couric wrote,

“Today, June 10th would have been our (gulp!) 36th wedding anniversary. We were married for 10 years before Jay died. This is a sad day for me but also a day of gratitude.”

Continuing, Couric added,

“Although our time together ended far too soon, our love endures, especially in our remarkable daughters. We miss you Jay—every day, but especially on the important milestones where your absence feels so acute. Happy anniversary to you, wherever you may be.”

Alongside the moving tribute, Couric also dedicated a special message to her present husband, John Molner, and while thanking him, wrote,

“And a special thank you to @johnmolner who understands there is room in my heart for both of them.”

Katie Couric’s cancer advocacy

Katie Couric, who replaced Deborah Norville as co-host of the Today show, has been ardently advocating for those who suffer from colon cancer ever since her first husband succumbed to the disease. Speaking about the necessity for screening for colon cancer with People Magazine in March 2025, Couric noted,

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“It's very worrisome to see the number of people under the age of 50 who are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer increase. I’m really trying to spread the word that the age for screening has been reduced to 45. Unfortunately, only 20% of people between the ages of 45 and 49 have gotten screened. So there's a lot of wood to chop in that area.”

As per the publication, Couric worked with the Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences to raise $50,000 that month.

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