Tony Bennett's Wife, Susan, Took Care of Him Through His Battle With Alzheimer's

Leila Kozma - Author
By

Jul. 21 2023, Updated 10:40 a.m. ET

Susan Benedetto and Tony Bennett
Source: Getty

It’s with great sadness that we share the news of the death of 19-time Grammy-award winning singer Tony Bennett. The talent passed on at 96 years old.

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Tony, who was known for hit songs that include “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and "Love for Sale" had his death confirmed by his publicist, Sylvia Weiner.

As fans and fellow peers mourn Tony's death with touching tributes, social media users are wondering about his family and loved ones — in particular, his devoted spouse. Here’s the full scoop on Tony Bennett's cause of death and his wife.

Tony Bennett appears/performs during the 2020 Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation
Source: Getty Images
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What is Tony Bennet's cause of death? The singer's wife and family have been mum.

Prayers up! According to the Associated Press, Tony passed on in New York City on Friday, July 21, 2023 at the age of 96, just two weeks before his 97th birthday. At this time, the singer's cause of death has not been disclosed to the public, but fans believe it's due to his prolonged Alzheimer's diagnosis. Tony's wife, Susan Benedetto, and children have yet to make a statement.

In case you've been out of the loop, Tony Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2016, per an AARP article. He and wife saw it best to keep the condition a secret until early 2021. At the time, Tony's symptoms were getting worse, which is what led the duo to share the devastating news with fans.

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Susan Benedetto and the late Tony Bennett on the red carpet
Source: Getty

Additionally, Susan opened about Tony's health in a February 2021 interview with CBS This Morning.

"He knows all his kids, absolutely. And he knows me. When you're somebody's caregiver 24/7, it goes a long way if they still know you. You know, every night when we go to bed, he says, 'I love you, Susan.' And every morning when he wakes up, he says, 'I love you,'" she added.

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"If someone has to take care of him, I want it to be me. … There is nothing that gives me really greater joy or greater pride that I'm able to be with him and take care of him," Susan told CBS This Morning.

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At this time, no details about a family or public memorial service has been released.

Tony Bennett first met Marion, Susan's mother, when she was still pregnant with Susan.

Tony and Susan started dating over three decades ago, but there's a chance that they met for the first time much earlier than that. Susan's parents, Marion and Dayl Crow were among the singer's biggest fans. They even asked him for a picture at a concert he gave in San Francisco, Calif., in 1966.

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Tony Bennett attends The Art Students League's 2019 Gala at The Edition Hotel
Source: Getty Images

"As fate would have it, Marion was pregnant at the time with … Susan! It's a photo we all laugh about knowing the incredible turn of events that followed," Tony wrote in his 2016 memoir, Just Getting Started.

Susan's parents would regularly play Tony's songs while she was growing up, as per MailOnline. In no time, she developed a fascination with his work as well.

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Eventually, Susan became the president of Tony's Bay Area fan club. She even met him at one of his concerts — which is how they first got talking.

"When she was 19, she had tickets to see me perform at the Masonic Temple in San Francisco, and she put in a request to say hello backstage after the show, probably not expecting a response," Tony wrote in his memoir.

Tony was married to Sandra Grant Bennett at the time. It's understood that he and Susan started dating after his divorce from the actress.

Tony Bennett performs onstage at the Statue Of Liberty Museum Opening Celebration
Source: Getty Images
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Tony and Susan tied the knot in 2007.

Tony and Susan tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony in 2007.

Mario Matthew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, and his wife, Matilda, served as their witnesses, a previous article by People reveals.

Tony shares two sons with Patricia Beech and two daughters with Sandra.

Tony and his first wife, Patricia, share two kids, D'Andrea (aka Danny) and Daegal (aka Dae). Danny has acted as Tony's manager for over four decades now, as per AARP. Dae earned recognition as a prominent audio engineer and producer.

Tony and his second wife, Sandra, share two daughters, Joanna and Antonia. Joanna forged a career as an actress with appearances in movies like Goodfellas. Antonia is a singer and actress.

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Tony Bennett and his family
Source: Getty Images

We'd like to give our deepest condolences to the fans, family, and loved ones of Tony Bennett. His legacy and contributions to the music world will live on.

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