Jim Avila, a former senior correspondent with ABC News, has died at the age of 69 after a “long illness,” the network announced Thursday morning .

“ABC News Live” anchor Diane Maced delivered a tribute to Avila regarding his work and journalistic achievements during his career.

“Jim was an L.A.-based correspondent specializing in politics, justice, law and consumer investigations for nearly two decades,” Macedo said. “He also worked in the White House and broke the news that the U.S. and Cuba had reopened diplomatic relations. That story earned him the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents Association.”

Avila was a correspondent for the ABC program “20/20” and previously reported on the White House from 2012 to 2016 while President Barack Obama was in office.

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