Renata Ford, the widow of polarizing former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, has died at the age of 55, with relatives describing the loss of the mother of two as “incredibly painful.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Renata’s brother-in-law, confirmed the family’s devastating news in a statement released Monday night.
“My heart breaks for Stephanie and Dougie,” he said. “They’ve been through so much at such young ages, and losing their mom is incredibly painful.”
“Our whole family is hurting for them. We ask that people respect their privacy during this very difficult time.”
No cause of death has been disclosed. Renata, 55, had stepped into the political arena in 2019, running in Etobicoke as a candidate for the People’s Party of Canada.
She placed fourth in that race, which came after she launched a $15 million CAD ($10 million USD) lawsuit against her late husband’s brothers, including the premier, tied to the Ford family’s finances.
In the court filing, Renata claimed they had mishandled family assets and Rob Ford’s estate, allegations Doug Ford has denied, CTV News reported.
The Ontario Liberal Party extended their condolences to Premier Ford and his family in a statement on X that said: ‘We are thinking of them during this difficult time and wish them strength and comfort in the days ahead.’
Renata Ford, widow of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, has died at 55, with her family calling the loss of the mother of two “incredibly painful”
Rob Ford served as mayor from 2010 to 2014 before he became clouded by controversy after a video appeared to show the then-mayor smoking from a crack pipe
Premier Doug Ford, Renata’s brother-in-law, announced the family’s tragic loss in a statement on Monday night
In a statement on Tuesday, the New Blue Party of Ontario said Renata had been a supporter of the party ‘who once boldly stated that New Blue was ‘the real Conservative Party of Ontario.’
‘More importantly, she was an advocate for freedom and the grassroots. We will continue to fight for those same values. Our prayers are also with her children, who have now lost both parents far too young,’ the party added.
Rhona Jubenville wrote on social media that she was ‘very saddened’ to hear of Renata’s passing.
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‘She personally supported me on my bid in Provincial politics with the New Blue Party of Ontario. She stood for truth, democracy and justice. May she rest in eternal peace,’ she wrote.
Mark Towhey, the former chief of staff to Renata’s husband, told Newstalk 1010 that Renata’s death ‘came out of the blue.’
‘I was quite surprised, it came out of the blue last night. She was quite young,’ he said.
‘I am thinking immediately of her two kids who I knew as very small children. Stephanie would be running around the office leading her brother into mischief whenever they came to visit.
‘They are now 20 and 18 I think, so it has to be a very difficult time for them particularly and I hope the family kind of coalesces around them…she will certainly be missed by her children.’
Renata’s death, the cause of which remains unclear, came after the 55-year-old made a political bid in 2019 as the candidate for the People’s Party of Canada in Etobicoke
Widow Renata is seen receiving a kiss from her son Dougie at the funeral of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who died from an aggressive form of cancer in 2016
Renata filed a $15 million lawsuit accusing her late husband’s brothers of mismanagement of family assets and her husband’s estate. The premier has denied the accusations
Towhey continued on to described Renata as a ‘fairly private person’ who had kept her distance from the public stage during her husband’s political career.
Rob Ford, whom she married in 2000, served as mayor from 2010 to 2014 between service as a city councilor both before and after. During his time as mayor, Renata was known to predominantly avoid the spotlight and very little was known about her personal life.
Her husband’s political career became clouded with controversy following a video which appeared to show the then-mayor smoking from a crack pipe. The former mayor initially denied the accusations before the involvement of law enforcement.
‘Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,’ he told reporters. ‘But, no, do I? Am I [an] addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately a year ago.’
Rob Ford was never charged with a crime and, despite pressure, he refused to resign until his health decline forced him to drop his bid for re-election and resume his City Council seat.
His death at 46 followed a tireless battle with pleomorphic liposarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in 2016.
