Jackie Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has died at age 78, the billionaire announced in a heartfelt statement.
Jacklyn Gise Bezos, who was born in 1946, “died peacefully in her Miami home” on Thursday, according to the Bezos family foundation.
“After a long fight with Lewy Body Dementia, she passed away today, surrounded by so many of us who loved her — her kids, grandkids, and my dad,” the tech billionaire wrote in an Instagram post Thursday evening. “I know she felt our love in those final moments. We were all so lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever.”
She was diagnosed with the disease in 2020, the foundation said. Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disease that affects one’s thinking, memory and movement, is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, according to MayoClinic.
Jackie is survived by her husband, Mike, children Jeff, Christina, and Mark, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
She was born in Washington, D.C., before her family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she gave birth to Jeff at 17.
“Her adulthood started a little bit early when she became my mom at the tender age of 17. That couldn’t have been easy, but she made it all work,” her son wrote.
“She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity, brought my amazing dad onto the team a few years later, and then added my sister and brother to her list of people to love, guard, and nourish. For the rest of her life, that list of people to love never stopped growing. She always gave so much more than she ever asked for.”
Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, wrote in the comments: "We will miss her SO much. Love you ❤️💔."
The young, single mother was “relentless,” the foundation said. She took night classes after high school and worked at a bank. That’s where she met Miguel Bezos.
They got married in April 1968, and the foundation stated that Jackie “poured her heart” into her children.
“She made countless trips to Radio Shack for Jeff, spent numerous hours supervising cheerleading practices with Christina, and hauled drums in the back of the family station wagon for Mark. She dedicated her life to her family and poured her heart into raising her children with compassion, patience, and wisdom,” the statement read.
Jackie and Mike — along with their children and their families — created the Bezos Family Foundation in 2000.
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