Patrick Duffy Remembers TV Wife Suzanne Somers in Emotional Tribute
Suzanne Somers, Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy paid tribute to his "dear and deep friend" Suzanne Somers in a heartfelt letter following the news of her passing.
The 74-year-old actor, who portrayed Somers' TV husband in the hit '90s sitcom Step by Step, spoke highly of the pair's friendship and mourned not only his massive loss but that of the late actress' family.
"As with everyone who knew her, I was stunned yesterday by the news that my dear and deep friend Suzanne had passed," he began in a statement shared to his official Instagram page. "For that brief moment it was unbelievable. But indeed she has passed. She beautifully passed through my life on this leg of her endless journey."
Though he admitted he will miss "the phone calls, the emails, the visits, and the meals and laughter," he noted, "My task now is to remain on the roadside as she continues on."
"But the dialogue of deep and thoughtful, and silly and frivolous continues," he said. "My conversations with her now will be held solely through my daily Buddhist practice."
"I am not alone in wishing I had one more face-to-face with her and [her husband] Alan [Hamel], but had we had that meeting last Friday I would still be yearning for just one more today. It is the painful beauty of our present human reality," he concluded, "What strength and support I can muster I send to Alan and [her son] Bruce [Somers Jr.] and her family and to her I say; When the stone of your life dropped in this pond you made quite a ripple my friend. Thank you."
As Parade previously reported, the acclaimed actress and writer passed away on Sunday, Oct. 15, following a years-long battle with breast cancer.
Along with her husband, Alan, she is survived by her son Bruce—whom she shares with her first husband, Bruce Somers—and her two granddaughters, Camelia and Violet Somers.
