Rachael Ray spends most of her time at her estate in Italy, but she’ll always be a New York girl at heart. She had homes in NYC and Lake Luzerne, New York. The Food Network star took to social media to share her heartbreak over the sudden, tragic death of someone close to her New York ties.
Rachael Ray Heartbroken Over Tragic Sudden Death
Rachael Ray was immensely popular when she was on the Food Network. She made a name for herself with her $30 Minute Meals. Her popularity led to a daytime talk show. The Rachael Ray show ran from 2006 until 2023. The self-taught culinary legend now stars in cooking shows on the FYI network.
She’s faced serious health issues over the years that changed her appearance and worried fans. Rachael Ray recently appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show in a rare public outing.
While she may live a quiet life off camera, Rachael Ray is active on social media. She took to the platform to share a heartfelt tribute after the sudden, tragic death of a close friend.
“So heartbroken over this news,” she wrote on a photo that included her husband, John Cusimano, Nick Mangold, and his wife, Jennifer Richmond. Nick Mangold passed away on Saturday, October 25, at the age of 41.
The former pro football player spent his entire career playing with the New York Jets. He retired in 2016. He was close friends with Rachael Ray, as well as her husband. Nick Mangold was the judge at the Food Network star’s Burger Bash event during the New York Food & Wine Festival.
In 2021, he appeared on her daytime talk show to share his go-to barbecue chicken recipe for game days. “Nick had a big heart and was a great friend,” Rachael Ray wrote on the tribute post she shared on Instagram Story.
NFL Player Begged For Help Shortly Before Dying
Nick Mangold passed away earlier this month from complications of kidney disease. The former NFL player took to social media less than two weeks before his death to beg fans for help.
“In 2006, I was diagnosed with a genetic defect that has led to chronic kidney disease. After a rough summer, I’m undergoing dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant. I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time,” he wrote about his declining health.
“I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood,” he added. Nick Mangold directed fans to a website set up to find a kidney donor for him. Unfortunately, a kidney never came through and he passed away from kidney disease.
In a 2017 interview, Rachael Ray said the Jets player was “like family” to her. “We’ve been friends with the Mangolds for a very long time and I love Nick,” she said at the time.
She joins the NFL in mourning the heartbreaking and tragic loss.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
