Susan Crow Mourns Beloved Husband Tony Bennetts Death: He Was No Longer Old Tony'

Publish date: 2024-05-20

Legendary singer Tony Bennett passed away on July 21, 2023, in his hometown of New York. He was 96 years old and was only two weeks away from celebrating his 97th birthday.

Bennett's publicist, Slyvia Weiner, confirmed his passing, but no cause of death was revealed immediately. The "Rags to Riches" hitmaker was last seen in public in June 2023, being wheeled around a Manhattan tourist spot near his New York home.

Singer Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Crow attend the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Bennett was photographed in a wheelchair enjoying his outing in New York City's Central Park. It was his final photos taken of him weeks before he died.

According to an insider who saw him, he was hardly noticed by anyone else while at the park. The outing came after his loved ones revealed what he was up to in the days leading to his death. In a touching post on Twitter, they wrote:

"Tony left us today, but he was still singing the other day at his piano, and his last song was, 'Because of You,' his first #1 hit. Tony, because of you we have your songs in our hearts forever."

Bennett, who was once married to Patricia Beech from 1952 to 1971 and Sandra Grant Bennett from 1971 until 1983, left behind his third wife, Susan Crow, and his four children—Danny, Dae, Antonia, and Joanna—from his previous marriages.

Bennett was 40 years Crow's senior, and they had already crossed paths decades before becoming a couple—before Crow was even born. When Crow's mother, Marion Crow, was pregnant with her in 1966, she attended Bennett's show with Crow's father, Dayl Crow, and took a photo with him backstage.

Crow became a big fan of her future husband's music long before they met at one of his shows in the late 1980s. As a teen, she was the president of his fan club in San Francisco, and by age 19, she met him backstage after his concert – just like her parents did.

Susan Crow and Tony Bennett during the 1989 US Open at Flushing Meadow Park on September 10, 1989 in Queens, New York | Source: Getty Images

Recounting his relations with Crow in his memoir, Bennett revealed that it amused him that someone her age was a big fan of his music. He also shared how he wooed her:

"I not only agreed to say hello to her backstage but asked her to be my date for the evening, and that's how it all really began."

Bennett Was Diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease - His Wife Took Care of Him in His Final Years

Bennett and Crow were together for twenty years before they finally wed in June 2007 in an intimate ceremony in New York City. They did not have kids together.

The pair had an enduring marriage even after the 20-time Grammy Award winner was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2016. He secretly battled this condition for five years before opening up about it for the first time in 2021.

Susan Crow and Tony Bennett at the 12th Annual Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on October 6, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada | Source: Getty Images

In 2018, it was revealed that he had started having symptoms of mental decline, struggling with memory. Of this, Crow got candid about caring for her beloved husband:

"I have my moments and it gets very difficult."

She explained that it was overwhelming bickering with Bennett because he could not understand her. However, she admitted feeling terrible about discussing the issue because they were lucky to have a good support system.

As for Bennett, he remained content and happy after being diagnosed. His wife stated it was because he could not comprehend what was happening to him. He would ask her what Alzheimer's was, and she would explain it to him but still would not understand.

Tony Bennett and Susan Crow light the Empire State Building in honor of Bennett's 90th birthday on August 3, 2016 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Instead, the two-time Emmy Award winner would tell his beloved spouse that he felt okay. "That's all he could process — that physically he felt great," said Crow.

After actor Sean Connery died at age 90 from dementia, his widowed wife revealed that he took his last breath in his sleep. Crow expressed that she hoped her spouse would die in his sleep, too, and that his health wouldn't take a turn for the worse.

She admitted there were many things about him that she still yearned for, especially since "he's not the old Tony anymore." However, "when he sings, he's the old Tony," she added.

She recently paid tribute to her late spouse alongside a picture of him smiling on Instagram. Crow thanked fans, Bennett's pals, and co-workers for celebrating his life and their shared love for his music, adding:

"[...] As sad as today has been for all of us we can find joy in Tony's legacy forever."

Bennett's Last Performance Was with Lady Gaga

Even after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Bennett continued performing for years and even released an album with his dear friend and collaborator, Lady Gaga, in September 2021.

His final performance was a series of sold-out concerts in New York City at the famed Radio City Music Hall in July of that year. He performed alongside the "Poker Face" hitmaker for the TV special "One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga."

Tony Bennett and singer Lady Gaga performing live at Radio City Music Hall on August 5, 2021 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

The opportunity to share the stage with Bennett made Gaga emotional. While introducing him on August 3, 2021, she urged the audience to warmly welcome him by making him smile while cheering for him.

They obliged and gave him a standing ovation before he even started singing and went on cheering him on some more. One audience member reportedly yelled, "We love you!" after Bennett sang the line "Let me sing forever more."

Tony Bennett and Susan Crow pictured on the streets of Manhattan on August 3, 2021 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

At 90 years old, Bennett said being in shape was a priority. He noted that people are still shown respect when they show up in their nineties but get comments like they are not what they used to be. However, that was not the case with him.

The "Body and Soul" singer said he was still energetic onstage and felt "blessed" that he managed to keep going even at his age. The father of four added he always had sold-out shows throughout his career, and it was a blessing that that still occurred at 90.

Tony Bennett at the Art Students League's 2019 Gala at Edition Hotel on November 4, 2019 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Bennett first rose to prominence in 1962 after releasing the hit song "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," which spent 21 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year.

In addition to his multiple Grammy and Emmy Awards, the iconic musician also bagged a Lifetime Achievement Award before his death.

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