Richard Simmons sent notes and pictures to fans he helped lose weight.
Richard Simmons sent notes and pictures to fans he helped lose weight
The fitness was found dead at his home on Belfast Drive, Los Angeles, after emergency workers responded to a 911 call from his long-term housekeeper Teresa Reveles on 13 July – with his passing coming a day after he turned 76 and four months after he told fans he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.
He has now been remembered for his acts of kindness by a string of fans who have shared their stories of meeting him and getting his help on their weight loss journeys.
One called Maxanne told People in a tribute story on the flamboyant exercise fanatic: “I had the privilege of meeting Richard many years ago. I did his ‘Deal a Meal’ and lost a considerable amount of weight.
“It was the pictures and notes he sent that meant so much. I even went on stage to exercise with him.
“I whispered to him, ‘I’m Max’, and he knew who I was. I will never forget how he made me feel special that day.”
Another fan called Michael told the magazine: “Years ago I met him in the Salt Lake City airport while we were waiting for a plane to Washington D.C.. He was so gracious and funny.
“I asked if I could take a picture with him. He said, ‘Of course you can honey’ and then gave me a big hug and called me a ‘teddy bear’.
“A genuine and nice person.”
Yet another fan said Richard invited them into his limo to have a chat after they met at a radio station.
The tributes come after Richard’s long-time housekeeper said she believes the late fitness guru was killed by a heart attack.
Teresa, who discovered his body the morning after his 76th birthday, told People she noticed his hands were balled into fists when she found him.
She said: “That’s why I know it was heart attack. I had a heart attack a few years ago, and my hands did the same.”
Teresa added her ex-boss looked “peaceful” and she believed he “died happy”.