WTOP Business Reporter Jeff Clabaugh Has Died

WTOP business reporter Jeff Clabaugh, a familiar and trusted voice for more than three decades, has died at the age of 63 after a battle with cancer. Clabaugh, who joined WTOP in the 1990s, became a staple of the station’s coverage with his twice-hourly money news reports and well-read online stories. His final on-air report aired Tuesday, just days before his passing at home on Thursday night with his longtime partner, Russ Rader, by his side.

Colleagues described Clabaugh as both a consummate professional and a warm presence in the newsroom. WTOP’s Director of News and Programming Julia Ziegler called him “one of the best storytellers in the WTOP newsroom,” praising his ability to make complex financial news easy to understand and relevant for everyday listeners. General Manager Joel Oxley added that Clabaugh’s conversational style and smooth delivery made people “turn up the volume” whenever he was on the air. Beyond his on-air work, Clabaugh was also known for his mentorship, newsroom humor, and annual tradition of hosting Jeff Clabaugh Day to thank his colleagues.

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