Jack Antonoff's Siblings: He Lost One of 2 Sisters to Cancer
One of Jack Antanoff's siblings has a career that requires much creativity and talent. Just like her brother, she is successful in her line of work. Tragically, Jack's other sister had already passed away. He pays homage to her through his songs.
Singer, songwriter, and record producer Jack Antonoff has created wonderful music and found success in the industry over the years. He is a founding member of the band Bleachers, with several albums and projects under their belt.
However, Jack Antonoff's music sometimes comes from a place of darkness, pain, and grief. Having lost a younger sister to cancer, the musician finds creating songs a form of expression and escape. Jack Antonoff's siblings are Rachel Antonoff and Sarah Antonoff.
Rachel Antonoff
Rachel Antonoff may not be in the music industry, but she has a career that requires just as much creativity. She is a fashion designer who wants to redefine fashion with thoughtful designs and ethical appeal for all body shapes and sizes.
She offers a wide variety of clothing comfortably worn from daytime to evening. "Our pieces are constructed to withstand actual activity, including but not limited to sitting, dancing, and undressing with abandon," her website reads.
Jack Antonoff and Rachel Antonoff during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Interestingly, some of Rachel's designs feature food and beverages. Rachel always hoped to incorporate food into fashion. She experimented with printing food into clothing pieces, and although it didn't initially sell, the pandemic changed her customer's demands. She said:
"People started buying the press pieces, so we pushed the line further and further with things like our seafood tower dress."
Besides her career, Rachel finds happiness in being single and exploring the world. She enjoys discovering new things and trying new dishes without holding back.
Sarah Antonoff
Jack and Rachel's younger sister, Sarah, passed away at age 13 due to brain cancer. Her death shook the Antonoff family, who left Sarah's room frozen in time. Jack has written about his sister in his band's "Gone Now" album, an avenue that helped him talk about his feelings.
According to Jack, his story has two parts: one that has moved forward and another that is frozen in time to when he was 18 and his sister was alive. Since her passing, Jack has been struggling with depression and anxiety. He continues to express his pain and grief through music. He said:
"I talk a lot about loss. Most of the stories that I talk about are 12 years old. Why am I still talking about them? How does that affect me now? It's time to figure it out; it's time to tell my story."
Antonoff Family Holiday Traditions
Jack, Rachel, and Sarah were born to Rick and Shira Antonoff. Their doting Jewish family has been continuing holiday traditions for many years, including Hanukkah, where they bring light gifts. Most of their gift exchanges happen during birthdays, a milestone they celebrate.
One of their holiday traditions is celebrating around a table at home with family and friends. Interestingly, the table came after their menorah caught fire and burnt their marble table. The story has become memorable as it led them to buy a new central piece at home. When not with family, Jack Antonoff focuses on his career and relationship with Margaret Qualley.