Alice Bell, Al Roker’s First Wife and Devoted Mother, Dies at 77 — A Quiet Force Remembered With Love and Gratitude

The world of morning television is mourning the loss of one of its quietest yet strongest figures. Alice Bell, the first wife of Today show favorite Al Roker and the loving mother of Courtney Roker Laga, passed away at 77, leaving behind deep sorrow among family and friends.

The heartbreaking news, confirmed by Courtney on February 10, 2025, through social media, has triggered an outpouring of tributes and memories. Al Roker himself became visibly emotional while reflecting on the woman who had once stood by him through the most uncertain years of his life.

In a rare and vulnerable moment, the 70-year-old broadcaster admitted that certain pieces of their shared past — private jokes, promises, and quiet nights when fame was still a far-off dream — now live only in his heart. “Some moments were never meant for the world,” he said softly, “but they will always belong to me.”

A Love That Shaped a Lifetime

Alice’s passing marks the close of a defining chapter for the Roker family — one built on resilience, faith, and quiet devotion. Married from 1984 to 1994, Alice was more than a partner to Al; she was the steady hand behind his early ambitions, long before he became a household name.

During a tearful segment on Today on February 12, Al recalled, “Alice was there from the beginning — when I was just a guy with big dreams and a weather map. She believed in me when no one else did, through the late nights, the rejections, and the small wins that meant everything back then.”

Their marriage brought them Courtney, whom they adopted in 1987. Now 37, Courtney is a mother herself, raising her 19-month-old daughter, Sky, with her husband, Wesley Laga. In an emotional Instagram post, she wrote, “She was my mother, my heart… I was with her for her last breath, and I will carry her love with me always.”

Accompanying photos captured Alice’s final days — frail but radiant, gently holding baby Sky, her eyes bright with the same quiet determination that defined her life.

Private Memories and Public Legacy

As Al revisited those early years, his voice trembled under the weight of nostalgia.

“There are things between us — private jokes, quiet promises made in our first little apartment — that no one else will ever know,” he said. “They’re mine to keep, like a secret garden no one else can enter.”

Their story paints the portrait of a young couple hustling through New York City, where Al was sharpening his craft at local stations, chasing his dream. Alice, who never sought the spotlight, became his emotional anchor through the chaos of rising fame.

Their decade together, though brief in years, left an enduring mark. Al often credits Alice with shaping his philosophy on parenthood — one he still shares with viewers today:

“Your job is to make sure your children can be whoever they want to be. Alice taught me that — quietly, selflessly, without ever asking for credit.”

A Family Tested by Time

The family’s grief deepened against the backdrop of Al’s ongoing worries for his current wife, Deborah Roberts, whose health struggles have weighed heavily on him in recent months. Deborah — married to Al since 1995 and mother to their children Leila (26) and Nicholas (22) — has been a constant pillar of support through this difficult period.

Courtney’s 2022 Mother’s Day post honored the bond between all three women in her life: “My mom Alice, my stepmother Deborah, and my mother-in-law Barbara — three strong women who shaped me.”

Al, who took a brief absence from Today on February 11, returned the next morning to a wave of compassion from co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. Fellow journalists and former colleagues, including Tamron Hall, Matt Lauer, and Savannah Guthrie, also sent heartfelt tributes — recalling Alice’s rare but memorable visits to the Rockefeller Plaza set and her genuine warmth.

Remembering Alice as a Grandmother

Amid the grief, the family has found comfort in joyful memories of Alice’s time as a grandmother. Photographs of her holding baby Sky, oxygen tube visible but smile unwavering, reflect a love that outshone her physical weakness.

Al, who became a grandfather for the first time in 2023, beamed through his tears when recalling that bond:

“Alice was Sky’s biggest fan from day one. Even when her voice was faint, she’d whisper stories to her about our adventures.”

He now plans to carry on that tradition, proudly taking on the nickname “Pop-Pop,” inherited from his own father — a role Alice once longed to share beside him.

The Woman Behind the Man

Alice Bell’s passing serves as a reminder of the quiet heroes who stand behind public figures — the partners who lift, guide, and love without needing the spotlight. She embodied dignity in simplicity, and her influence continues to ripple through her family’s lives.

As the Roker family faces this profound loss, Al’s closing words on Today resonated deeply:

“No matter what happens, these are always your children — and the love we shared with Alice will always be our guiding light.”

In a year already marked by celebrity farewells, Alice’s story stands apart — a testament that true legacy isn’t built on fame or headlines, but on love, faith, and the quiet constancy of devotion.

Rest in peace, Alice Bell — your light endures in every heart you touche