Doug Flutie’s Parents Both Die Of Heart Attacks On The Same Day
Former NFL star Doug Flutie lost both of his parents on Wednesday, November 18. According to a Facebook post, Flutie’s parents, Dick and Joan Flutie, both suffered fatal heart attacks within minutes of each other.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am making this statement. This morning my family experienced the tragic loss of my father, Dick and mother, Joan. My Dad had been ill and died of a heart attack in the hospital and my Mom, less than an hour later had a sudden heart attack and passed away. They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it. I would like to honor my parents for all that they did throughout my and my brothers’ and sister’s lives. My parents were always there for their children, from the days my Dad coached us as kids and my Mom would work the concession stands, through to this morning. The most important part of their 56 years of marriage was providing opportunities to their children. They were incredible parents and Grandparents and my family and I will miss them both. On behalf of me and the entire Flutie family, I would like to thank you all for your well wishes and prayers during this difficult time.”
Doug Flutie and his family have received hundreds of messages of love and support during this incredibly difficult time. It does seem as though Joan Flutie died from a broken heart, which is a story that people have read in the headlines time and time again. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, a couple married for 67 years died hand-in-hand back in February.
The love story of Floyd and Violet Hartwig touched the hearts of thousands of people around the globe. The couple’s children knew that their parents “didn’t want to let go of each other,” and the way that they died — within five hours of each other.
“[My dad] would tell the doctor, ‘I’m okay I just want her fixed.’ That was his concern; not how bad his pain was, but that he wanted my mom fixed. We could tell my dad was in a lot more pain. We said ‘it’s getting close,’ so we pushed the hospital beds together as far as we could. We put their hands together, and my dad died holding my mom’s hand. Mom was not coherent, but we told her that dad had passed away and that he was waiting for her. She died five hours later,” said Floyd and Violet Hartwig’s daughter, Donna.
It does seem like Doug Flutie’s parents had a similar love that could not survive without the other half.
Dick and Joan Flutie are also survived by Doug’s brothers, Darren Flutie and Bill Flutie, and their sister, Denise Flutie.
Doug Flutie, 53, played for the New England Patriots from 1987-1989 and came back to the team years later. He is most known for his “Hail Mary” pass in a 1984 game against Miami (Flutie had been playing for Boston College at the time). According to WCVB, that was the same year that Flutie won the Heisman Trophy, though the voting for the award was over before the notable “Hail Mary” pass.
Our hearts go out to the Flutie family, all of whom are in our prayers. https://t.co/bOKFfWTVt1
— Boston College (@BostonCollege) November 18, 2015
[Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images Sports]
