Hugh Hefner’s widow Crystal pays tribute to the Playboy founder three years after his death: ‘I will be forever grateful’
Hugh Hefner’s widow, Crystal Hefner, is remembering her late husband on the third anniversary of his death.
The former Playmate took to Instagram on Sunday, September 27, and shared a loving tribute to the Playboy magazine founder, who passed away at his home, dubbed the Playboy Mansion, in Holmby Hills, California at the age of 91.
‘Three years. It’s hard to believe,’ the 34-year-old began in the caption of a photo of the couple snuggled up next to each other.
‘Thank you for always being my greatest ally, teaching me the definition of kindness, and making me feel extremely important and adored for ten years. I will be forever grateful.’
Heartfelt: Crystal Hefner, 34, shared a loving tribute to her late husband Hugh Hefner on the third anniversary of his death; they are pictured in October 2014
In another tribute, Hefner (born Crystal Harris) shared the same photo of the couple on her Instagram Stories that she headlined: ‘Thinking of this legend today.’
The model, who was the Playboy Playmate of the Month in December 2009, was married to Hefner from December 31, 2012, until his death on September 27, 2017.
They wed when he was 86 and she was 26 .
The legendary publisher died from sepsis that was brought on by a E. coli infection. Sepsis is an inflammatory immune response that arises when the body’s response to infection causes injury to its tissues and organs.
Tribute: The former Playboy Playmate thanked her late husband for their time together in her Instagram post; the model was 26 and Hefner was 86 when they wed in December 2012
Crystal Hefner (born Cystal Harris) was the Playboy Playmate of the Month in December 2009; she is pictured in Mexico on September 3, 2020
Hefner’s youngest son, Cooper, from his second marriage to model Kimberly Conrad, also took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute.
‘We lost our father three years ago today. This will be an afternoon accompanied by Jack and Pepsi to celebrate him and our continued love,’ the 28-year-old captioned a photo showing himself and brother Marston, 30, with their father when they were kids.
‘We miss and love you, Dad.’
Hefner was married to Conrad from 1989 to 2010.
Memories: Hefner’s youngest son, Cooper, from his second marriage to model Kimberly Conrad, also took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute
Hugh Hefner also left behind a daughter Christie, 67, and son David, 65, from his first marriage to Millie Williams from 1949 to 1959.
Just this past July, Crystal Hefner confirmed she’s been dating Nathan Levi, 32, whom Page Six has previously identified as a spaceship engineer. It’s her first public relationship since Hugh’s death.
The new couple were first linked when they were spotted packing on the PDAs at a resort in Mexico over the summer.
New man in her life: Crystal Hefner is now dating Nathan Levi, 32, her first public relationship since the death of Hugh Hefner in September 2017