John McCool dies at 53: Fox 8 host Tracy McCool’s husband had been battling cancer for 5 years

2023-05-11 07:45

John McCool served in the military before opening his own gym, where he trained mixed martial arts fighters

CLEVELAND, OHIO: Fox 8 anchor Tracy McCool’s husband, 53-year-old John, has died after a long battle with colon cancer. The 55-year-old host announced the tragic news on Wednesday morning, May 10, with an emotional Facebook post, which read, "PEACE BE STILL MY LOVE! Fly high in heaven!" She also shared a picture of her and John smiling.

John was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in October 2018. As per Fox, he served in the military before opening his own gym, where he trained mixed martial arts fighters. John never hesitated from sharing his story as he wanted others to get screened for cancer too. “When my friends, especially my male friends that are around my age ask ‘Hey, what can I do for you?’ The first thing I say is, ‘Have you got a test yet?’ If they tell me no, I say, go get a test, that’s what you can do for me,” he told Fox in 2021.

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'I probably had cancer for a few years'

John was brave despite five arduous years of tests and treatments. He previously admitted that he disregarded his symptoms and didn't know his complete family history. “You need to go [to the doctor.] You need to go when you’re 35 and not 50. OK? 50 is when you get it. I probably had cancer for a few years, but I waited and walked in, and I was stage four,” he said, adding, “I don’t care if it costs you what you’ve got in your savings account. Take it out of your savings account.”

How did Tracy McCool meet John?

John and McCool first met when they were teenagers studying at Copley high school in Ohio. The two started dating after they graduated in 1987. They spent a few months together before they decided to go their separate ways. They met much later on and got married in 2002. They have a daughter, Cassidy, who was born in 2006, and a son, Carter, who was born in 2008. The family currently lives in the Akron area with their two dogs.

McCool opened up about John's cancer battle in an emotional Facebook post in December 2018. “October 11, 2018 We joined the fight no family wants to go through,” she wrote, adding, “As I walked out of the Taussig Cancer Center with the love of my life, I closed my eyes, struggled to catch my breath and TIME STOOD STILL. I grabbed John’s hand and a wave of emotion nearly brought me to my knees. I couldn’t imagine life without him, our children without their Dad, and precious time together as a family.” Since John’s diagnosis, McCool has been updating his followers about the treatment and encouraged others to not ignore concerning symptoms.