Former NAACP president Jerry Mondesire dies at age 65

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- Former Philadelphia NAACP president and journalist J. Whyatt "Jerry" Mondesire has died. He was 65.

Mondesire's family said in a statement he died Sunday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital:

The family of Jerome Whyatt Mondesire, publisher of the Philadelphia Sunday Sun and former president of the Philadelphia NAACP died Sunday evening - October 4th at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mondesire, 65 was with family and close friends. Details about the memorial service are forthcoming. The family wants to thank everyone for their love and support.

Mondesire was the longtime leader of Philadelphia's NAACP.

In 2014, the national NAACP ousted him and three local board members with whom he'd been feuding. The board members had questioned Mondesire's financial management of the Philadelphia chapter.

Mondesire, publisher of the Philadelphia Sunday Sun, was a former reporter and editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

A founding member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, he also was a community affairs host on WDAS-FM.

The following statement was released Sunday on behalf of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists:

The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ) is heartbroken to learn of the passing of longtime member J. Whyatt "Jerry" Mondesire earlier this evening. We join his family, friends and the Philadelphia community in mourning his death. Mondesire, 65, was a founding member of PABJ, and a relentless crusader for human and civil rights...

The Associated Press contributed to this report.