The famed newswoman Barbara Walters passed away on Friday, and in the hours that followed, tributes from notable friends, colleagues, and fans began to come in.
Cindi Berger, the representative for Walters, has verified the news that Walters has gone away at the age of 93, telling PEOPLE: “Barbara Walters died without suffering in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by family and friends. She had a very eventful life.”
The following is an excerpt from Berger’s statement: “She spent her life without any regrets.” Not only for female journalists, but for all women in general, she was a pioneer in her field.
Oprah Winfrey, another titan of television, was at the head of a lengthy list of renowned admirers who came to pay their respects to Walters. The media tycoon expressed her gratitude for Walters for being “such a powerful and generous role model” in an Instagram post, and she referred to Walters as “hero.”
Robert Iger, a former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, was one of the first people to provide his thoughts on the “one-of-a-kind” legacy of Barbara Walters and to extend his sympathies to Walters’ daughter Jacqueline.
Iger added in a statement to PEOPLE and via Twitter that Barbara was a true legend and a pioneer not only for women in journalism but for journalism itself. “Barbara was a pioneer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself,” Iger said.
“She was a one-of-a-kind journalist who was able to secure interviews with many of the most influential people of our time, including heads of state and leaders of regimes, as well as the most famous entertainers and sports figures. Over the course of more than three decades, I had the privilege of referring to Barbara as a coworker; however, more importantly, I was able to refer to her as a good friend. At The Walt Disney Company, we are all going to miss her very much, and we want Jacqueline, her daughter, to know that we offer our sincerest condolences.”
