Willis Reed, the legendary captain and star center legend died at 80, New York Knicks, his basketball team confirmed the news in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Knicks organization is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Captain, Willis Reed. As we mourn, we will always strive to uphold the standards he left behind, the unmatched leadership, sacrifice and work ethic that personified him as a champion among champions,”  Knicks said in a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon.

“His is a legacy that will live forever. We ask everyone to please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time,” the statement added. 

Also Read | Who was Willis Reed? New York Knicks captain NBA Hall of Famer dies at 80

Who is Geraldine Marie Oliver?

Geraldine Marie Oliver was the first wife of Willis Reed. Reed married his college love, Geraldine Marie Oliver on 12 February 1963. They had two children. The marriage ended with divorce in 1969.

Reed was married again, to Gale Kennedy, a nurse, in Roslyn Heights, New York, in 1983.

Reed is survived by his second wife, Gale, and a daughter, Veronica. He had two children, both from his first marriage to Geraldine Marie Oliver. The second children was a son, Karl who died in recent years.

Also Read | Willis Reed: Cause of death, age, net worth, wife Gale Kennedy, New York Knicks stats

Reed died aged 80 from heart failure on March 21, 2023. 

His death was also confirmed by his former teammate Bill Bradley, the former Democratic Party Senator. He told that Reed had congestive heart issues. It was not clarified where Reed died, but he had been under treatment at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Bradley confirmed.

Reed won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award for the 1969-70 season. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1965, was titled an All-Star seven times and won another NBA title and finals MVP with the Knicks in 1973.