Patrick Swayze Passed Away
Patrick Swayze, 57, passed away Monday afternoon with his family at his side. Though his death was not unexpected, the news still sent a wave of unsettling grief throughout the world.
When I think of Swayze, who lost his extended battle with pancreatic cancer, it’s nearly impossible for me to think of him as nearly sixty years old. He had that perpetual look of youth, and in recent years looked as healthy, young, and vibrant as he did when he first appeared Skatetown, U.S.A. thirty years ago. The success of movies like 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Ghost' helped make Swayze a household name.
Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2008, for which he underwent chemotherapy and other treatments. Initial reports were optimistic, and doctors at Stanford University Medical Center reported that he had a limited amount of the disease, and was responding well to treatment.Just one year ago he appeared on the worldwide simulcast of Stand Up To Cancer to appeal to the general public for contributions to the initiative. Broadcast in over 170 countries, they successfully raised more than $100 million in just one evening. It will be easy for us to remember Patrick Swayze the actor, but he also had remarkable success in his personal, private life. He was married to Lisa Niemi from June 12, 1975 until his death. Though their marriage bore no children, they enjoyed a shared passion for dance and Arabian horses, who they showed together in Scottsdale Arizona, and were utterly committed to each other for nearly thirty-five years.
Rest in peace, Patrick.
