Celebrity Deaths
Ron Duguay Dead at 69: Former NHL Star and Sarah Palin’s Boyfriend Dies After Cancer Battle
Ron Duguay, the former NHL star who had been dating Sarah Palin since 2022, has died following a battle with stage 4 colon cancer. He was 69.
The dad of three — who shared daughters Shay Thomas and Amber Stavros with his first wife Robin Bobo, and son Noah Duguay with ex-wife Kim Alexis — died peacefully on Thursday, October 22, according to TMZ.
Thomas confirmed the news on Instagram, while Palin, 62, mourned her longtime boyfriend in an emotional tribute.
“It’s with a shattered heart, but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now. He fought so hard. Love never ends,” the former Alaska governor wrote.
Duguay was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2024, but he only publicly revealed his battle with the disease earlier this year in February.
As Globe previously reported, just days before his death, Palin asked fans to pray for the former hockey player as his health deteriorated.
“Prayers for Ron Duguay so appreciated,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories on Sunday, October 18, alongside a photo that appeared to show her holding his hand in a hospital bed, per Us Weekly.
In another post, Palin shared a photo of herself leaning close to Duguary.
“I know God can. I’m asking Him to. And even if the answer looks different, I know by now to still hold on to Him,” she wrote.
Thomas had previously shared an update on her father’s condition on October 17, and she thanked supporters for their prayers.
“As you all know, Dad is a fighter, and he never stops fighting. We’re taking it one day at a time, holding on to our faith, and believing in his healing. Please keep praying for our dad,” she wrote.
Duguay played in the NHL from 1977 to 1989. He primarily played for the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings, but he also played for the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.
