Deirdre “Didi” O’Hearn, an industry veteran who most recently head of programming and development for Food Network and Cooking Channel, died Monday after a long battle with lung cancer, her husband Richard Eckerstrom confirmed to Deadline.
O’Hearn had recently entered hospice in Florida and passed away this morning with her husband, two sons and two of her brothers by her side.
She was 63. During her tenure at Food Network and Cooking Channel, she oversaw the existing programming slate, both daytime and primetime, and the creation of new shows for both networks.
O’Hearn joined Food Network and Cooking Channel from WE tv where, as VP Development and Talent, she was responsible for creating brand defining original series and specials and was instrumental in developing a number of WE tv’s popular series, including Mary Mary, Kendra On Top and L.A.
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