“Real Housewives” Husband Bobby Zarin Has Died
If the lights in your neighborhood Jo-Ann Fabrics are dimmed today, it isn’t because they forgot to pay the electric bill (this month). It’s because the whole industry is recognizing the death of a legend, as the Textile Tsar of the Upper West Side (and husband of Real Housewives of New York legend Jill Zarin) Bobby Zarin passed away this weekend.
People reports the sad news that Bobby died on Saturday after a lengthy battle with cancer. Jill posted the official family statement to her website:
“With the heaviest of hearts, we are devastated to share the news that our beloved Bobby Zarin passed away peacefully today surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer. There are no words to describe how heartbroken we are. Thank you, everyone for all your love, and support during this difficult time.”
This is a true loss to those of us who have been sitting and drooling on the couch watching RHONY ever since it debuted in 2008. Jill was presented as the ginger, gossipy matriarch of a batch of lunatic hens populating the island of Manhattan. Bobby was the logical port in the screaming hyena storm that was each season. He kept me transfixed with his Anna Wintour habit of wearing sunglasses indoors. Even when Jill and former BFF Bethenny Frankel had a falling out, Bobby seemed to be the only genuine good guy in the whole snafu.
Bobby had been fighting that jackass of a disease since 2009, when he was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He had to get his thyroid removed and had radioactive iodine treatments, and I seem to recall one excuse given for why Jill and Bethenny had a falling out was because the latter was too busy with her spin-off to keep in touch with Jill while Bobby got sick, but there seems to be an amends on the horizon.
UsWeekly reports the funeral for Bobby was today, and it was a like a scrapbook of Bravolebrities. Bethenny showed up along with Dorinda Medley, Kelly Bensimon, Patti Stanger, and Aviva Drescher. The cameras (one possibly from Bravo) caught Jill and Bethenny’s reunion at Bobby’s funeral.
Marla Maples was also there, so I can only assume Andy Cohen is already at work piecing together the plot puzzle for next season on RHONY. Several of the ghosts of Real Housewives Past and Present, including the OG annoying couple from Brooklyn Simon van Kempen and Alex McCord, expressed their condolences to Bobby:
So sorry to hear that @bobbyzarin, my fellow house spouse from the early days of #RHoNY, has lost his battle with cancer. Our thoughts to @JillZarin, Ally and family.
— Simon van Kempen (@SimonvanKempen) January 14, 2018
One of my favorite #BobbyZarin sayings was “One more, that’s it!” Cheers to you sir, a true mensch. #RIPBobby and love to @Jillzarin and family
— Alex McCord (@mccordalex) January 14, 2018
“Here’s to those who wish us well. All the rest can go to hell.” One of Bobby Zarin’s favorites. Another one: “It’s all good,” and Bobby, now it really is… #RIP
— Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) January 14, 2018
Pic: Wenn.com