Bobby Flay is mourning the loss of his late father. The celebrity chef took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a series of throwback photos alongside an obituary he wrote himself for The New York Times.
"Thank you for all of the thoughtful words for me and my family about my dad’s passing," he captioned the post on social media. Flay revealed that his father, Bill, died of "natural causes" on February 23.
He described the family patriarch as a "proud native Manhattanite" and spoke of his many successes. He served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant and went on to work as an attorney, before teaming up with restaurateur Joe Allen and growing several businesses, as well as the Orso restaurant brand. In his 60s Bill Flay even went back to school to finish his Master's degree in art history.
"His quest for education never ceased throughout his life and he was known throughout his circles as a consummate gentleman and a true renaissance man, able to speak with great confidence about almost every subject where there was literature available," Flay wrote.
Fans and friends alike quickly flooded the comment section with support. "I'm so sorry for your loss. Many Blessings to you and your family," one person wrote, while another added, "Much love ... just an absolute great ... special to everyone who ever met him ... RIP."
"Sorry for your loss how lucky you all were to have each other in your lives," a third wrote.
Flay's 28-year-old daughter, Sophie, shared her own sentiments about her grandfather on Instagram.
"My grandfather was my whole world," she began the heartfelt note. "He adored and believed in education. He was never underdressed. If we weren’t together on my birthday, he’d put on a button down shirt and blazer just for FaceTime. He was the biggest jokester and always had a bit going."
She went on to call him a "big fan of Andrea Bocelli, Christina Aguilera and Nicki Minaj" and said he loved the Premier League and the New York Mets. "Bill Flay charmed everyone he met," she concluded the post.
