Michael Strahan’s beloved father Gene has died at the age of 83.
The 48-year-old’s colleagues at Good Morning America took time during their Friday broadcast to honor the life of Gene and send condolences to Michael.
The touching tribute came on the same day that the late veteran was being laid to rest.
RIP: Michael Strahan’s beloved father Gene has died at the age of 83 and his Good Morning America colleagues shared a touching tribute to the late veteran during their Friday broadcast
This morning, we’re celebrating the life of Michael Strahan’s father Gene Willie Strahan who will be laid to rest today,’ GMA tweeted. ‘Our thoughts are with his family during this time.’
GMA host Amy Robach read a touching eulogy to honor Gene, Michael and their family during a difficult time.
‘We wanted to take a moment to say our thoughts and our prayers are with our colleague Michael Strahan and his family. His father Gene Willie Strahan Sr. is being laid to rest today,’ the anchor said.
A series of sweet personal photos of Gene and the Strahan family were aired as Robach told the audience a bit about this long life.
In remembrance: A series of sweet personal photos of Gene and the Strahan family were aired as Robach told the audience a bit about this long life
‘He was born in 1937,’ she began. ‘The first of nine children to receive a high school diploma.
‘Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1955, Gene rose to become a major and serve with the 82nd Airborne Division.’
‘Gene married wife Louise in 1957,’ she continued. ‘They spent 63 wonderful years together bringing up six children.’
‘We wanted to take a moment to say our thoughts and our prayers are with our colleague Michael Strahan and his family. His father Gene Willie Strahan Sr. is being laid to rest today,’ the Amy Robach said
Michael was, understandably, not at work on Friday but his co-workers spoke directly to him during the tribute to his father and sent their love.
‘To Michael, Louise and the entire Strahan family, we want you to know our hearts are with you today,’ Amy said. ‘We love you, Michael.’
Strahan has yet to comment on the sad loss.
Happy together: Gene and Louise were married for 63 years; they are pictured here with Michael and his four children daughter Tanita, 28, son Michael Jr., 25 and 15-year-old twins Sophie and Isabella
‘To Michael, Louise and the entire Strahan family, we want you to know our hearts are with you today,’ Amy said. ‘We love you, Michael.’
On Father’s Day, Strahan shared some heartfelt words in honor of his dad on social media.
‘Happy #FathersDay to my dad and all the fathers out there. Hopefully you are relaxing and enjoying the honor of being a dad (the greatest gift in life),’ he penned.
‘Think about the impact you have on your children and make sure you are doing everything you can to show them right from wrong because they are watching!’
Michael is a father himself. He shares four children with his two exes, daughter Tanita, 28, son Michael Jr., 25 and 15-year-old twins Sophie and Isabella.
Beloved: On Father’s Day, Strahan shared some heartfelt words in honor of his dad on social media and called being a father ‘the greatest gift in life’
In 2016, the Superbowl champion opened up to People Magazine about the support he had gotten over the years from his parents.
‘I never knew I could accomplish so much,’ he told the outlet. ‘But my parents never act surprised. They look at me as if there’s no limit. That helped me feel like there’s no limit.’
He recalled, at the time, how his father send him to live in Texas with a family member while the rest of the Strahans were living on an Army base in Germany.
Michael stayed with his uncle so that he could attempt to secure a footbally scholarship, despite not playing ball in high school.
‘I never knew I could accomplish so much,’ Michael told People in 2016. ‘But my parents never act surprised. They look at me as if there’s no limit. That helped me feel like there’s no limit.’
‘I didn’t know what I was doing,’ Strahan continued. ‘But because my dad never said “if” or “possibly,” — he said, “This is gonna happen” – I said okay.’
He went on to receive a scholarship with Texas Southern University and was then drafted by the New York Giants.
Strahan spent 15 years in the NFL, all with the Giants, and helped lead the team to their 2007 Super Bowl win over the Patriots.
After retiring, Michael went on to have a career as a sports analyst and joined GMA in 2014.
Sad day: Michael was, understandably, not at work on Friday because he was attending his father’s funeral