Katie Spikes, Longtime “60 Minutes” Producer Dies at 53

On Tuesday, Spikes passed away at the age of 53.

According to CBS News, legendary 60 Minutes producer Katie Spikes passed away after a protracted fight with cancer.

For three decades, she worked for the network in a variety of producing positions, including senior story editor for 60 Minutes. She was responsible for making reservations for a number of high-profile guests, including Michael Phelps, the winner of the Olympic gold medal, and former President Barack Obama.

She was also responsible for Tony Bennett's 60 Minutes profile from the previous year, which demonstrated how the singer could still perform while having Alzheimer's illness. Last week, Bennett passed away.

60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens paid tribute, saying, "She was the relentless positive energy that everyone sought out. Smart, funny, hardworking, and a genius friend and mentor. I valued Katie’s opinion because she wasn’t afraid to take the other side of an argument and always had impeccable taste," according to CBS News.

"Katie never got mad never ever said a cross word-when times were rough she was the light – she embodied positivity. CBS – 60 min and the world lost a piece of their heart. Our love and support for the family you are in our prayers," Susan Zirinsky, senior executive producer at the network and former president of the news division added to tributes on X/Twitter.

Additionally, Spikes had a significant impact on how CBS News covered the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. She was also a founding senior producer of Showtime's 60 Minutes Sports. For her efforts in the network's coverage of Princess Diana's passing in 1997, she was awarded an Emmy.

Spikes was born on October 26, 1969, in New York City, and resided in Westfield, New Jersey.

Her devoted husband Donald Furrer, her two kids James Joseph and Owen Doolin Furrer, her stepson Brandon Scott Furrer, her parents Judith Doolin and James L. Spikes, as well as her sister Sarah Spikes, survive her.

Donations to the New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center may be donated in her honour in lieu of flowers.