When Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1, he was survived by a loving family that consisted of his wife of 46 years (Jane Slagsvol) and their three children – Savannah Buffett, 44, Sarah ‘Delaney’ Buffett, 31, and Cameron Buffett, 28. He was reportedly surrounded by his family when he passed.
On Wednesday (September 6), Delaney Buffett took to her Instagram to share a touching and heartwarming tribute to her late father – it was a long one and you might want to have tissues on hand before you start reading it. Even in his final days, Delaney described him as ‘a man whose spirit could not be broken.’
She described how he was always smiling, even as he suffered through pain as a result of his Merkel Cell Skin Cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment four years ago. “He was kind when he had every excuse not to be. He told us not to be sad or scared, but to keep the party going,” she wrote in her post.
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And while he had a very public love for weed and wine, it was life that he was ‘high on’ and it’s that type of lifestyle he wanted for everyone who followed his journey – ‘to enjoy the fantastic trip that life can be,’ as Delaney Buffett put it. She praised him for being a hard worker, a great man, and an even better father.
“He was generous with friends and strangers alike. He had a deep admiration for the people he worked with, and he never took himself too seriously, which is probably what I loved most about him,” she wrote – even adding that he chuckled and joked along to the various South Park episodes that parodied him.
“Over the past few days, people have thanked me for sharing my dad with them, but I know he would have wanted me to thank his fans for sharing their lives with him. We are his family, but the stage was his home, and you, his band, and everyone on the road gave him the strength to keep going back,” she said.
She also alluded to a simple message her mother, Jane Slagsvol, told her once – “Whenever you feel sad or lost, look for the messages in his music. There are plenty.” And she’s right, especially considering he released 29 studio albums, 9 compilation albums, 14 live albums, 8 specialty albums, and 67 singles.
Delaney Buffett Thanks Everyone for Their Love and Support
Delaney Buffett ended her Instagram tribute with a special thanks to all those who have showed their love and support through the years – including the many doctors and nurses who helped him during his 4-year battle with skin cancer. She said he repeatedly expressed his appreciation for those who took care of him.
“I want to thank you for giving us more time together. I am eternally grateful,” she said of the doctors who helped him at home and in the hospital. She also thanked all of her family and friends who reminded her of the ‘importance of human connection’ – adding that ‘laughter was the best medicine’ and it still is.
She ended the tribute with a message for her dad. “And finally, to my dad, thank you. You turned nothing into something and gave me everything. I will never be able to repay you or my mom for my beautiful life. I will love you forever, and I will always keep the party going (responsibly, of course),” she wrote.
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Jimmy Buffett was surrounded by family and friends when he passed away on September 1, 2023 at his home in Sag Harbor, Long Island. His battle with skin cancer never stopped him from taking the stage as he continued to perform while receiving treatment. He will be greatly missed, but forever remembered.
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