UPDATE: Tony Bennett Dies at 96: Much-Younger Wife Cared for Him till Last Breath after His Diagnosis

• Tony Bennett was famous for his vocal skills, astounding audiences with his voice for decades.
• The renowned song stylist would have turned 97 in a few weeks but tragically passed away shortly before his birthday.
• After his passing, Bennett is being honored by countless fans and fellow musicians.

With numerous hit songs to his name, such as "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," Tony Bennett was a rare musical talent. The song stylist was renowned for his love of American classics and for bringing out new, iconic music. His music even inspired many other greats, from Frank Sinatra to more modern musicians.

Sadly, the musical icon recently passed away in his hometown of New York after struggling with Alzheimer's disease since 2016. Reports indicate that Bennett's chronic illness had little to do with his death. The vocalist is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, and nine grandchildren.

The sizeable family is undoubtedly mourning Bennett's death. The musician passed away on July 21, 2023, at age 96, a few weeks before his birthday on August 3. While many of his fans remember him for his legendary voice, his family saw other parts of him, including his love for painting. He shared:

"I love to paint as much as I love to sing. It worked out to be such a blessing in my life because if I started getting burnt-out singing ... I would go to my painting, and that's a big lift. ... So I stay in this creative zone all the time."

The vocalist shared that painting was a hobby he immensely enjoyed, taking art lessons to improve his skills and taking his sketchbook with him whenever he went on tour. Bennett shared that painting often offered him respite from his demanding singing career.

With a career that started in the 1950s and produced hit upon hit, Bennett's musical prowess will surely be missed. Bennett's publicist, Sylvia Weiner, confirmed the artist's death to the Associated Press, noting that there was no clear indication of the cause of his passing.

Bennett's 40-Year-Younger Wife Cared for Him after His Diagnosis

Although Bennett's Alzheimer's diagnosis had no influence on his passing, the singer's life changed almost entirely after he first heard that he had the illness. Alzheimer's is one of the most common forms of age-related dementia. The disease is a neurodegenerative illness that causes memory loss and can even lead to loss of speech.

Bennett had had trouble remembering the names of other musicians while he was on stage and took that as a frightening omen.

Although Bennett didn't develop many of the harsher symptoms of Alzheimer's, he suffered short-term memory loss and was reportedly often visibly detached from the world. As his symptoms worsened, Bennett found solace in reading and painting, which had always been a source of relaxation for him.

Luckily, the singer had someone to look after him as he grew older and the Alzheimer's grew more pronounced. Tony had met his wife, Susan Crow, in 1985, when she used her Tony Bennett fan club credentials to sneak backstage during one of his performances. The two quickly fell in love.

Crow had been a longtime fan of Bennett's, inheriting her love for his music from her mother. Bennett was 58 when he first met the 19-year-old Crow, although the age gap didn't keep the two apart. Crow was highly mature for her age, and the two instantly connected, moving in together not long after they first fell in love.

The two settled down in New York, Bennett singing and painting while Crow completed her studies and became a social studies teacher. Bennett and Crow also went on tours together, with the adoring wife supporting her husband from behind the stage while he did what he did best. But that all came to an end in 2015.

Bennett had had trouble remembering the names of other musicians while he was on stage and took that as a frightening omen. Crow believed his forgetfulness was merely a sign of regular aging, but Bennett knew something was amiss. Eventually, Bennet insisted on going to a doctor and having a proper check-up.

A year later, Bennett was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and Crow became his full-time caregiver. In a Twitter post Bennett made in 2021, he thanked his family for their support, writing, "Life is a gift - even with Alzheimer's. Thank you to Susan and my family for their support, and @AARP The Magazine for telling my story."

Bennett Enjoyed Cooking and Being a Grandparent in His Final Years

Although Bennett was diagnosed with an incurable disease that scares many people, the singer wouldn't allow the illness to rob him of his last years of life. In 2017, he became a proud grandfather after his son, Danny Bennett, welcomed his first little one with his girlfriend, Hadley Spanier.

Bennett shared a snap of him holding the new baby boy, captioning the post, "Welcoming my new grandson… born this weekend!" At the time, Bennett had only recently made his diagnosis public and was still touring and performing at the age of 91. He noted that he was enjoying an active and healthy life with his family.

In 2022, Bennett kept his fans updated on his daily life, sharing posts on Instagram that showed slivers of what the iconic singer was getting up to. One image showed him smiling widely in front of a stove. The singer explained that he and his wife had tried a new meatball recipe, writing:

"Susan and I made Ina Garten's meatball recipe which is a favorite. Am sure we'll find some new favorites in her latest 'Go To Dinner's cookbook that we just received. Needless to say, we didn't have any leftovers (sic)."

It seems that Bennett enjoyed cooking along with his other hobbies, often sharing pictures of him trying out a new idea for a meal with his wife by his side. Another snapshot showed the singer stirring cabbage in a pot with a wooden spoon. He shared that the dish was a family tradition he was making for a holiday dinner.

Crow made the choice to make Bennett's Alzheimer's public knowledge in 2016. Nonetheless, he still enjoyed the time he spent on stage and thanked his fans for their continued support. He noted, "We were always sold-out wherever we played throughout my whole career, and it's a blessing to still have that happen at 90."

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