Damon Weaver, who was one of the youngest to interview a seated president at age 11 and later attracted attention for conducting other high-profile interviews with celebrities like Dwyane Wade and Oprah Winfrey, died on May 1. He was 23 years old.
The death was confirmed by Candace Hardy, Mr. Weaver’s sister. The cause was not disclosed.
Ms. Hardy told WPTV-TV in West Palm Beach, Fla. That her brother texted her while she was working that he was in the hospital. He had already died when she visited him, she said.
In 2009, then 11-year-old Weaver conducted a session interview with President Barack Obama in the diplomatic room of the White House, questioning him on topics such as the Obama administration’s efforts to improve education in lower-income areas, such as: Weaver’s hometown, Pahokee, Florida, and Mr. Obama’s basketball skills.
“You did a great job on this interview, so someone has to be doing something right at this school,” Mr. Obama told Mr. Weaver after the 11-year-old was invited to visit Kathryn E. Cunningham / Canal Point Elementary School South Florida.
Prior to his meeting with Mr. Obama, Mr. Weaver received considerable attention through a 2008 interview with Mr. Obama’s then-comrade-in-arms Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Damon Lazar Weaver Jr. was born on April 1, 1998 according to his funeral announcement. His sister told WPTV that Mr. Weaver was “a light” and “the life of the party”. According to the station, Mr. Weaver graduated from high school on a full scholarship from Albany State University in Georgia. He graduated from university in 2020, according to a post on his Instagram page.
“Everyone couldn’t wait to be around,” Ms. Hardy told WPTV. “Family reunions, they were always fun just because of his presence.”
Information on Mr. Weaver’s survivors was not immediately available.
Mr. Weaver also covered Mr. Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President on his school’s television newscast and interviewed attendees and celebrities at the inauguration, including Ms. Winfrey and Samuel L. Jackson. In an interview with The Associated Press before going to Washington, Mr. Weaver highlighted what he enjoyed most about being a reporter.
“I liked seeing people on TV so I thought I might do this job one day,” said Weaver. “I like being a reporter because you can learn a lot, meet nice people and travel a lot.”
Mr Weaver said that his favorite subjects at school at the time were reading and math and that his goal was to one day become a journalist and maybe even a soccer player, astronaut or president.
“I’m very proud of him,” said Regina Weaver, the mother of Mr. Weaver, to The AP.
