The iconic television host Jerry Jerry Springer has been laid to rest.
Linda Shafran, Springer’s longtime publicist and family friend/spokesman Jene Galvin shared with PEOPLE that a private ceremony was held on Sunday in a suburb of Chicago. They also told the outlet that the funeral which took place three days after his April 27 death was attended by a small group of close friends and family. It was said that the burial service also included traditional Jewish customs.
Although that already happened, a larger public tribute is expected to take place May 16 at noon in Cincinnati, Galvin says. The ceremony will focus on the life and legacy of Springer and will be a free ticketed event, which will also be streamed online, the outlet notes. More information regarding the event is expected to be shared in the coming days.
More On Jerry Springer’s Passing
As we previously reported, on April 27, 2023, Jerry Springer died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 79. Jene Galvin previously told outlets that he was actually sick for months and was running through a series of tests. He recently found out just how dire his pancreatic cancer diagnosis actually was. Ultimately, he decided to share the news with his close circle only so he wouldn’t worry people.
As TMZ notes, Jerry knew his time was limited due to the severity and type of cancer he had so he made a point to spend as much time with his loved ones as possible.
Jerry’s death was confirmed on Thursday by his team. “Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word,” family friend and spokesman Jene Galvin said in a statement to PEOPLE. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”
The statement continued, “Funeral services and a memorial gathering are currently being developed. To remember Jerry, the family asks that in lieu of flowers you consider following his spirit and make a donation or commit to an act of kindness to someone in need or a worthy advocacy organization. As he always said, ‘Take care of yourself, and each other.'”
More On Jerry Springer
Springer served as the 56th Mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978 before taking over televisions across the country. Springer later became a household name in the US and abroad with his iconic talk show for over three decades. “The Jerry Springer Show” began its multi-decade run in 1991 and came to an end in 2018 with over 4,000 episodes.
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Although Jerry is no longer here to entertain his fans, they promise to keep his legacy and famous quote alive: As he always said, “Take care of yourself, and each other.”