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Rob Gronkowski paid tribute Tuesday to philanthropist and former Patriots cheerleader Susan Hurley, who recently succumbed to her years-long battle with ovarian cancer at the age of 61.
In a heartfelt post shared on Instagram, the legendary Patriots tight end praised the work Hurley did for the New England community, including his Gronk Playground endeavor, and championed her “strength and resilience.”
“We lost a good one over the weekend. Susan Hurley has known my family and I for a long time, she became a good friend of ours and supported our foundation more than words can express over the years,” the 36-year-old Gronkowski began.
“But even beyond our team, Susan took care of so many charity teams for the Boston Marathon and their bibs, helping raise so much money to give back to charities. She always did it out of love, her love of the game, her love of people, her love of helping others, and her love for the kids.
“She always had a smile on her face and the utmost positivity, staying an inspiration for runners and charities every single day, even while she was fighting cancer. Her strength and resilience were truly inspirational, and she will be greatly missed.”
Hurley, a running enthusiast who was a cheerleader for the New England franchise in the 1980s, died Saturday after a four-year cancer battle, her family confirmed.
The founder of CharityTeams, Hurley’s organization has “helped hundreds of runners achieve their goals while raising an impressive 42 million dollars for non-profits,” according to the initiative’s website.
Gronkowski, who spent the first nine seasons of his Hall of Fame career in New England, added Tuesday that without Hurley, his Gronk Playground space that opened in Boston earlier this year would not exist.
“Without Susan, there would be no Gronk Playground,” he posted on Instagram. “I’m thankful that her legacy can live on through the playground, making a huge impact not only on all the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation kids she helped, but all the kids she continues to inspire every day.”
In response to Gronkowski’s social media tribute, many within the Patriots family expressed their condolences to Hurley’s family.
“I’m so gutted over this loss 💔 Susan was the definition of living a life with purpose and passion,” Camille Kostek, a former Patriots cheerleader and Gronkowski’s long-term partner, wrote on Instagram. “She was walking sunshine. Her light and kindness was felt by anyone who met her. She was so passionate about you leaving your legacy behind in Boston with this playground, and now hers lives on there 🪽 I have loved watching you two take this playground from blueprints to the grand opening and I’ll forever cherish my last hug goodbye to her . You are so loved susan.”
Former Patriots wideout Julian Edelman penned on X, “Sorry for your loss Robby G. Susan was a great lady.”
Gronkowski retired from the NFL in 2022 after 11 years. He spent the final two seasons of his career with the Buccaneers and is currently part of the “Fox NFL Sunday” team.
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