Days after her father’s passing from skin cancer after a 4-year struggle, Jimmy Buffett’s daughter tweeted a heartfelt memorial to her father.
Delaney Buffett posted on Instagram on Wednesday, “I knew my dad my entire life, but in his dying days, I witnessed who he was: a man whose spirit could not be destroyed.
“He smiled every day despite the agony. Even though he had every reason not to be kind, he was. He advised us to keep the party going instead of feeling depressed or afraid. And even though I’d like to use it as a justification to indulge in a drunken stupor befitting of his literary heroes, I know that’s not what he really meant,” she went on. “Yes, he enjoyed his marijuana and wine, but the truth is that most of the time, he was simply high on life, which is what was important to him for everyone: to take advantage of the incredible journey that life can be.”
According to a statement on his website, Buffett passed away on Friday at the age of 76 from Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and deadly skin cancer. The statement also said that Buffett passed away quietly surrounded by “his family, friends, music, and dogs.”
He was the “hardest working person” Delaney Buffett had ever seen, and she described him as a wonderful father to her and her brothers. She spoke of his kindness toward both acquaintances and complete strangers, adding that he “had an immense respect for the individuals he worked with.”
She claimed that the stage was “his home,” adding that his band, followers, and “everyone on the road” “gave him the courage to keep going back.”
“I’ll share something my mother once told me: “Whenever you’re feeling down or lost, listen for his music’s words. There are numerous.
The two-time Grammy nominee is best known for his 1977 song “Margaritaville,” which catapulted him to widespread recognition and earned him the moniker “drunken Caribbean rock ‘n’ roll.” “Delaney Talks to Statues,” a song he penned for his daughter, is also included in his discography. He has used his vibe to create restaurants, clothing companies, and other businesses.
Delaney thanked his physicians, nurses, and family in her final paragraph for “giving us more time together” and for “reminding me of the value of human connection.”
“And finally, thank you to my parents. You created something out of nothing and gave me everything,” she said in her letter. I’ll never be able to thank you or my mother enough for my wonderful life. I’ll always love you and keep the celebration going (with responsibility, of course).