Late TV reporter's son delivers heartbreaking eulogy on air: 'I can't believe you're gone'

No role can compare to that of a parent. Sam Rubin, a beloved reporter at KTLA, recently passed away from a heart attack. His son Colby honored him live on air, moving many to tears with his heartfelt eulogy. In a post shared by KTLA on X, Colby expressed what his father meant to him and the invaluable life lessons he left behind. “Hi Dad, I wrote this under a desk in your cubicle where you caught me sleeping. But you weren't there to wake me up this time. Dad, I can’t believe you’re gone,” Colby began with a heavy heart.

Fighting back tears, Colby continued, “You’ll never get to pick me up from school, we’ll never go biking again, we’ll never argue about food, you won’t be at my wedding. I can't believe you're gone. I love you so much.” He remembered, “On the day you died, I hope you heard me say that...You took me to every Boy Scout meeting, to every therapy session.” Colby expressed immense gratitude for his father's impact on his life, recalling cherished memories to share with everyone.

“I remember on a Boy Scout trip, I was the only kid in our group who didn’t have a kayak and partner and you were there for me. I remember how you drove me at 3:00 in the morning to get me from a sleepover. I remember you coming to all my plays and supporting me when I was unsure of myself,” Colby said, his voice shaking with emotion. He also shared screenshots of a conversation with his dad when he felt insecure and uncomfortable around his friends.

Rubin, being as gentle, supportive, and encouraging as he could, replied to his son’s panicked texts. “Dad, Dad, I can’t do this,” Colby said in multiple texts. Rubin replied, “You can do this. At this point, you have to do this. You can’t let your team down and at this point, I know you won’t. I never would have dropped you off if I wasn’t 1000% sure that you could do this.” He added words of encouragement, saying, “You are going to be fine ... Ignore the noise. You have every gift. Respect your talent.” As Colby gathered breaths to continue with the eulogy, he had nothing but gratitude in his heart. 

“You always knew what to say and... you encouraged me and you loved me every day and built me up,” the teen said on air. “I am completely who I am because of you.” “I had more of a father in 16 years than people have had their entire lives,” he added. Colby concluded by saying, “Dad, I love you. I am so lost without you. I’ll miss you every day. I hope you know how loved you are.”

This article originally appeared on 5.19.24.