Jamaica Observer audio visual manager and prominent sports journalist Donald Oliver has died.

Oliver, who was the Press Association of Jamaica’s Sports Journalist of the Year in 2015, died suddenly Tuesday morning after complaining of chest pains. He was 40.

An award-winning sports journalist and presenter, Oliver previously worked at CVM TV, TVJ and SportsMax, where he made his mark as a senior producer and high-profile commentator for over two decades.

Following the closure of SportsMax, Oliver joined the Jamaica Observer Media Group as audiovisual manager in August of 2025.

Observer Executive Editor Vernon Davidson hailed Oliver as a consummate professional and a “wonderful human being”.

“I never met Donald before he joined us at the Observer earlier this year. I had only seen and heard him on television doing what he does best — sports commentary,” Davidson said.

“It was very clear to me that he was a fountain of knowledge in a range of sports and his analyses were always insightful and extremely informative. I came to respect him for that,” Davidson continued, adding “I was therefore thrilled when he joined us at the Observer as I knew his contribution would enhance our coverage of sports.”

He described Oliver’s sudden passing as “shocking” and noted that, “The media fraternity and Jamaica have lost a decent and extremely talented man. This one is tough.”

Sports journalist Leighton Levy was emotional as he spoke with the Observer about Oliver, who he worked with for nearly 20 years.

“I’m struggling to find the words today,” said Levy, normally outspoken and a man of many words.

“My friend and colleague, Donald Oliver, passed away this morning, and it feels unreal. We were preparing for a Year in Review stream tonight,” he revealed.

“Just Sunday night, we were testing the stream, laughing, shaping ideas, and talking about what the conversation would be. I have known Donald for almost 20 years. He produced me for the 2012 Olympic Games analyst panel on CVM, and later we were colleagues at SportsMax from 2016 right up until 2025,” Levy said.

He remembered Oliver as a good friend to his family and a “genius producer”.

“He was a friend to my wife and to me, steady, thoughtful, and unbelievably creative. He was a genius producer, one of the best I have ever worked with, and his documentaries, including the powerful piece on Alia Atkinson, will stand forever as part of Jamaica’s sporting legacy. That was his gift: he didn’t just record history, he shaped how we understood it,” said Levy. “This one cuts deeply, the same way losing Hubert Lawrence did in 2024. Two giants, gone far too soon. Two friends whose voices helped tell the story of Jamaican sport with heart, intelligence and grace.”