In the aftermath of his sudden an untimely death, the family of former Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Roy Halladay has released a statement.
“Our family is heartbroken in confirming that Roy passed away in a plane crash Tuesday afternoon,” the statement said, in part. “While many will remember him for his success as a major league pitcher, we remember him as an amazing father, loving husband and loyal friend.”
The statement went on to talk about Halladay’s passion for life, which included his family, his career in baseball, and his life as a pilot.
It also shared information about a public celebration of Halladay’s life. That will be held at in Clearwater, Florida at Spectrum Field, the Phillies’ spring training home and the home stadium of their Class A affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers.
“On behalf of our family we thank you for respecting our privacy during this time of overwhelming grief. We also ask that you respect the privacy of our extended family as well as the families and children who Roy has coached, taught, and worked with. We are so thankful and fortunate for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received from across the world. A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. The service will be open to the public.”
Halladay pitched for Toronto from 1998-2009, and Philadelphia from 2010-2013. He was 40 at the time of his passing earlier this week.