Jerry Remy will forever be an icon for Red Sox fans, particularly those living in New England that watched him on NESN. Sunday morning, the club announced that Remy had passed away after another battle with cancer. He was 68 years old.
It was just three months ago that the network and Remy announced he would take time off to receive treatment. He had been treated repeatedly for lung cancer since 2008. He first made his diagnosis public in 2009.
The “RemDawg” became a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006. He had been part of the organization since since 1978, when he was acquired from the Angels. He played for the team until 1984. He has been a part of the team’s NESN broadcasts since 1988.
Jerry Remy made a final public appearance at Fenway Park earlier this month. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the American League Wild Card Game between the Red Sox and New York Yankees. His friend and colleague Dennis Eckersley served as his catcher.
“We are saddened by the loss of a beloved player, broadcaster and 13-year cancer warrior,” Red Sox principal owner John Henry said in a statement on the team’s website. “Jerry’s love and connection to baseball didn’t allow anything to stand between the game and him, including for many years cancer. He devoted his entire career to baseball and whether from his seat in the clubhouse or his perch above the field in the broadcast booth, he took generations of rising Red Sox stars and a multitude of fans along for the ride with him. During his lifetime, he witnessed great triumphs and terrible tragedies handling all of it with grace, dignity, and a huge heart. He left an indelible mark on this club and on an entire nation of Red Sox fans.”
Remy is survived by Phoebe, his wife of 47 years, and their three children. Plans for a memorial service and public requests for donations in his honor were not immediately available.
