Just days after their final regular season game, the New England Patriots have lost a member of their organization off the field. Masslive.com reported on Tuesday that the team’s longest tenured employee, Don Brocher, has passed away after a long battle with leukemia.
Brocher, 60, who died on Monday night, started with the Patriots’ organization in 1972 as a ball boy and has been around to see the team go through its struggles and got to live to see the team enjoy recent success including 3 championships in 7 Super Bowl appearances. Brocher only missed his first game in 40 years this past August when he stayed behind after the team traveled to Tampa Bay in the preseason.
Patriots Chaiman and CEO Robert Kraft, who lost his wife Myra Kraft to cancer in 2011, shared his condolences and admiration for the longtime member of the Patriots family.
“The Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization awoke with very heavy hearts this morning. That is when most of us learned of Don’s passing. He had fought this deadly disease so valiantly all season long. We were all optimistic that he would defeat it and fully recover.”
Kraft stated that he was glad to have had the opportunity to thank Brocher for his contributions and also valued him as a fighter.
The CEO also sent thoughts and prayers go out to Don Brocher’s family.
Funeral services have yet to be finalized.
Brocher worked 834 consecutive games for the New England Patriots. His presence will be missed by the entire organization.
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