Today show contributor Bobbie Thomas acknowledged the death of her husband, Michael Marion,
on social media. Marion died on Dec. 1, 2020 at age 42 after suffering from an ischemic
stroke back in April 2019, per Entertainment Tonight. According to Heathline, an ischemic
stroke is "caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain."
Thomas wrote on Instagram,
"Nothing is normal. Maybe nothing will ever be normal again. For me, it won't. My husband
is gone. [...] As I type through tears, I embrace gratitude... holding our precious
son Miles and memories, of the time I did have with Michael, closer to my broken heart."
The television personality encouraged people to make the most of the time they have with
loved ones now. Telling people to go hug the people close to them, she added,
"One thing we all have is kindness. Absorb it, extend it, exhaust it. Because in the
end, the ONLY thing that matters is love. If you're lucky enough to have it, please
appreciate it, every moment, every day. Especially during the hard parts. There will never be
enough time and some of our forevers are much too short,"
Per USA Today, Bobbie Thomas and her late husband, Michael Marion tied the knot in 2013.
He came home in a wheelchair after his 2019 stroke, per the outlet, but it wasn't until
June 2020 that Thomas shared a video on Instagram showing her husband and their son Miles. Thomas
captioned it,
"A moment like this — the first time Michael was able to pick Miles up for a hug since
his stroke — is why I temporarily stepped away from social media the past few months."
She added that she was ready to celebrate a number of milestones in her life, such as
her
"wedding anniversary (#7!), Father's Day, Miles' last day of Pre-K , the first day of
summer, and of course Michael's continued recovery."
In May 2020, Thomas wrote about her husband's recovery for National Stroke Awareness Month
for Today. She shared,
"I love my husband. We've been fortunate to celebrate many happy times since we met, but
I've never felt more in love or more connected to him than in the pain and dark. In relationships,
everything isn't always a picture-perfect wedding day. We make all these plans for the
future, but life can change in an instant and it's who you have next to you in these
moments that makes all the difference."
2020 has not been an easy year for many people. Hopefully, Thomas, Miles, and the rest of
their family take all the time they need to mourn Marion.
On social media, Bobbie Thomas' colleagues and friends expressed their support and love
for the Today contributor after her husband's death at age 42. In the comments section of
her Instagram post, for example, Hoda Kotb, left a string of heart and prayer hand emojis.
Savannah Guthrie added,
"Dearest brave Bobbie. We will all surround you and Miles with love. I'm so sorry for
all you have to bear. You have my deepest admiration and love and respect. You have
taught me so much and I am bringing it to heart."
Dylan Dreyer also commented,
"You are an incredible woman with so much strength. My heart breaks for you and Miles
and I'll keep your family in my prayers. Sending you so much love.”
Today ran a segment dedicated to Thomas and Michael Marion and also tweeted out,
“We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to style editor Bobbie Thomas as she grapples
with the untimely loss of her husband, Michael Marion, who died at age 42."
At least has a whole crew of people in her corner during such a sad, heartbreaking time.
Since her husband's stroke in 2019, Bobbie Thomas has been open about the experience,
sharing updates from when he first came home in a wheelchair and videos of him with their
son, Miles, as previously mentioned.
According to his obituary, Michael Marion went to the University of Michigan for his
bachelor's degree and then to George Washington School of Law where he got his JD and later
NYU School of Law where he earned his LL.M. He was a partner at the Tax Transactions group
at Mayer Brown LLP. His obit reads,
“Beloved by his many friends, colleagues, and extended family, he had a smile that lit
up every room he entered."
The family added, "Our hearts are broken. With great sadness, we mourn the loss of our
beloved Michael, who passed away on December 1, 2020 at age 42 after a heroic struggle."
Marion is survived by Thomas, their son, his mother and father, Vivien and Lester Marion,
his sister Sara, and his nephews Benjamin, Ari, and Sam.