David S. Gifford

Daily News reporter Storm Gifford, who wrote about everything from celebrity breakups to presidential politics, died Tuesday after filing a story on deadline. He was 50. Gifford, who was working from home, logged off his laptop around 11 p.m. and collapsed a short time later, said his partner, Daniel Matejek, with whom he shared a New Jersey home. Matejek called 911, but medics were unable to revive Gifford. Gifford worked two stints at the News, first in 2005 as a copy editor before leaving briefly and returning as a breaking news reporter on the national desk. Heartbroken colleagues remembered Gifford as an inspiring mentor with a big heart whose encyclopedic knowledge of all things film and math-related was a valuable resource. “He could put any cinephile to shame, but he’d never do that because his heart was too big to ever do that,” said News reporter Jami Ganz. “Losing Storm is a loss not just for all of us who are honored to have called him a friend and colleague, but for this world.” News Editor-in-Chief Robert York called Gifford’s death “a terrible loss.” “Storm was an amazing person with an incredible spirit and brilliant mind,” York said. National editor Ginnie Teo said Gifford was passionate about entertainment, word puzzles and sports. “Every year, without fail, there were several days you knew that Storm was taking off,” Teo said. “The opening week of March Madness, and the day the Oscar nominations came out.” Kevin Gifford recalled that when they were kids his older brother kept a baseball card collection that he never let anybody touch. Outside of that, Kevin said, his brother was generous and always put others first. “It was never about him,” Kevin said. “He was never about that. He was about celebrating someone else’s life rather than celebrating his.” Teo agreed. “When I was still a part-timer at the News, I was about to call to wish him a happy birthday, but he called me first,” Teo recalled. “He excitedly told me that he found out I was getting a full-time position at the News. He said that it was the best birthday present he could have wished for. That was the kind of selfless friend he was.” Matejek called Gifford a “renaissance man” for his varied interests, which included the Philadelphia Eagles. David Scott Gifford was born in southern New Jersey on the outskirts of Philadelphia. He attended Glassboro State College before it became Rowan University, around the same time he adopted the name “Storm.” After graduating, he went on to earn a masters degree in literature from Eastern Michigan University. Gifford also spent time working at the Trentonian and CBS Sports. Kevin said his brother was one of a kind. “Everything he did he did on his own. He worked for it,” Kevin said. “He was 10 times smarter than me and 100 times kinder. That’s what he was, a kind person.” David “Storm” Gifford is survived by his mother, Karen Richardson of Galloway, NJ and hie brother, Kevin Gifford of Atco, NJ. Interment will be private.