Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a popular’s children’s book author whose recent New York Times essay about her husband went viral, died Monday morning from ovarian cancer.
She was 51 years old.
Rosenthal’s passing was confirmed by her longtime literary agent and friend, Amy Rennert, who told The Associated press of Amy:
“Everything Amy did was life and love affirming.
“She was such a bright light with a great sense of wonder. Amy loved her family. She loved words, ideas, connections.”
Earlier this month, Rosenthal (who was diagnosed with the disease that would take her life in 2015) made headlines for encouraging other women to date her husband, Jason, after she passed away.
We’re serious.
She penned a beautiful, emotional story for The New York Times’ “Modern Love” column titled “You May Want to Marry My Husband.”
In the piece, Rosenthal created a poignant “dating profile” for her husband, whom she said she fell in love with in “one day.”
The author felt so strongly about Jason that she wanted to share him with others; both in her essay and, in theory, with another woman some day down the line.
“He is a sharp dresser. Our young adult sons, Justin and Miles, often borrow his clothes,” Amy wrote in one section of the article.
“Those who know him – or just happen to glance down at the gap between his dress slacks and dress shoes – know that he has a flair for fabulous socks. He is fit and enjoys keeping in shape.”
Rosenthal made millions of people tear up by outlining various specific details about her husband, going on about all the ways he’s made her happy over the years.
And admitting that she knows she doesn’t have much time left with him or with her three kids, Paris, Justin and Miles.
“I want more time with Jason. I want more time with my children. I want more time sipping martinis at the Green Mill Jazz Club on Thursday nights,” she wrote, adding:
“But that is not going to happen. I probably have only a few days left being a person on this planet.”
WMAQ-TV reported on Monday that Rosenthal was in hospice.
Last month, she wrote about her health on Instagram, making it clear in her final post that things were taking a downward turn.
“This cancer – oh, did I mention I have cancer? – has increasingly (and rudely) robbed me of my normal energy and focus,” she wrote on February 1, explaining that she had to stop her latest project because of her condition.
“There are other things I need to be tending to, creating, and focusing on with my limited time.”
In the essay that went viral, Amy called Jason “an easy man to fall in love with.”
She described him as an “absolutely wonderful father” to their three children and she added:
“Did I mention that he is incredibly handsome? I’m going to miss looking at that face of his.”
Jason and Amy were married for 26 years.
“I didn’t know exactly what she was composing,” Jason said in a statement released regarding The New York Times article.
“But I was with her as she labored through this process and I can tell you that writing the story was no easy task.
“When I read her words for the first time, I was shocked at the beauty, slightly surprised at the incredible prose given her condition and, of course, emotionally ripped apart. “
In a nod to his late wife and the marriage they shared, Jason concluded:
“I don’t have the same aptitude for the written word. But if I did, I can assure you that my tale would be about the most epic love story… ours.”
Amazing, heartwrenching stuff all around.
May Amy Krouse Rosenthal rest in peace.