Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert recently announced the death of his 26-year-old son Nick, who passed away over the weekend from neurofibromatosis.
In a statement released on Instagram, the NBA franchise wrote in the caption of a post, “t is with heavy hearts that we join the Gilbert family and the Rock Family of Companies in mourning the loss of Nick Gilbert, who passed away yesterday from complications related to Neurofibromatosis 1.”
Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a genetic condition that causes tumors, typically non-cancerous ones, to grow along the nerves and spinal cord which can result in bone deformities, learning disabilities, and high blood pressure. This type of neurofibromatosis is often identifiable in early childhood.
Over the course of Nick’s life, he was an important figure in Cavaliers history and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. “Nick was a light and inspiration to so many throughout his 26 years of life,” the team said. “Nick’s unrelenting spirit has been a driving force behind our organization.”
The statement also referenced the Bow Tie campaign, in which the Cavaliers wore bowtie emblems on their warmup jersey throughout the duration of the 2022-2023 season in order to support Nick, who was keen on the fashion choice.
“It was our honor to stand with Nick this past season and celebrate the strength and resilience of all those impacted by NF,” Cleveland wrote. “Our season-long Bow Tie campaign was a constant reminder that there’s still more work to be done to find a cure.”
Concluding their statement, the team expressed the heartfelt sentiments, “We send our thoughts, prayers and love to the entire Gilbert family and to everyone who loved Nick.”
Cleveland franchises across the city mourn the loss of Nick Gilbert
Nick was such a significant role in the Cleveland area, multiple franchises including the Browns and the Guardians honored the late figure.
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While the MLB team conducted a moment of silence during last Sunday’s game, the Browns took to Twitter and released a moving statement in which they discussed their grief over the loss of Nick Gilbert. “A true inspiration to the Cleveland sports community and beyond,” they said of the Cavaliers fan favorite.
The Browns added, “Your passion for the Cavs, infectious smile and signature bow tie will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace.”
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