Sarah Palin has shared the kind of personal announcement no one ever wants to make.
The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee posted a deeply emotional message Thursday after losing the man who had been by her side for years.
Ron Duguay, Palin’s longtime partner and one of the most recognizable New York Rangers players of his era, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 69.
Palin’s message was brief, raw and grounded in the Christian faith that has long been central to her public life. She described herself as heartbroken while taking comfort in her belief that Duguay is now with Jesus.
This was not a sudden story for those who had been following Duguay’s health. His family disclosed earlier this year that he was fighting stage IV colon cancer, and the public had seen increasingly serious updates in recent weeks.
Just days ago, Palin asked supporters to pray for him as he remained under care. That plea now carries an entirely different weight.
Us Weekly reported earlier this month that Duguay’s daughter, Shay Thomas, had asked the public for prayers while sharing a hospital photo of her father. She said the family needed all the prayers it could get as his cancer fight appeared to take a grave turn.
The family had previously explained that Duguay was facing stage IV colon cancer and that he had collapsed at home after becoming severely dehydrated and struggling to eat. Doctors also found internal bleeding and an ulcer after the fall left him with facial injuries and several missing teeth.
Thomas later said some of his medical numbers had improved, even though he still had a long road ahead. She described a father who kept smiling, cracking jokes and holding onto a positive outlook while his body endured the cancer and the treatment.
The Associated Press reported that Duguay’s family informed the New York Rangers of his death. The team then issued an official tribute to one of the most popular players in franchise history.
The Rangers remembered the flowing hair and unmistakable skating style that made Duguay a Madison Square Garden favorite, but they also emphasized the skill, toughness and charisma that won over New Yorkers. Duguay entered the NHL as the Rangers’ 13th overall pick in the 1977 draft and became a point-per-game All-Star during the 1981-82 season.
His career later took him to Detroit, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles before he returned for another run in New York. He finished his playing years with 673 points across the regular season and playoffs, then stayed connected to hockey through coaching, broadcasting and alumni events.
The NHL Alumni Association remembered Duguay as a cherished member of the hockey family whose legacy reached far beyond the game.
Duguay was selected 13th overall by the Rangers in the 1977 NHL draft. He spent the first six seasons of his professional career in New York, returned for a second stint later in the 1980s and became an All-Star during the 1981-82 season.
According to his career record at Hockey Reference, Duguay also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. Across his NHL career, he became known as both a productive forward and one of hockey’s most magnetic personalities.
For Palin and the people closest to him, the hockey record now gives way to something much more personal. They have lost a partner, father, grandfather and friend after a long fight the family lived day by day.
Palin and Duguay began dating in 2022 and maintained their relationship across the enormous distance between Alaska and Florida. During his illness, she repeatedly traveled to support him and his family, including during hospital stays and treatment.
That is what makes her final line so painful and so powerful: the love remains even after a life ends.
Please keep Sarah Palin, Ron Duguay’s children, his grandchildren and everyone who loved him in your prayers.
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Rest in peace, Ron.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.
The post JUST IN: Heartbreak Strikes Sarah Palin as She Shares a Painful Update appeared first on 100PercentFedUp.com.
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