Guy Fieri turned 57 on January 22nd, a day of celebration tinged with sadness as it marked his first birthday since the passing of his father, Jim Ferry. Jim Ferry passed away on January 27th, 2024, at the age of 81.
Fieri, the renowned Food Network star, shared his emotions on Instagram Stories, writing, “First birthday I’ve celebrated without my dad ‘Jamps.’ I wanna call him all the time and ask questions, help me solve issues or celebrate the wins. Wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him and it’s hard to be here without him.” He concluded his post with a poignant message, “One tour one round one chance make it count!” accompanying a photo of himself with his late father, mother Penny, nephew Jules, and sons Hunter and Ryder.
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In a separate social media post, Fieri paid tribute to his mother, Penny. Sharing several photos, he wrote, “This is the one to blame or celebrate lol. My wonderful effervescent superstar red headed wonder MY mom Penny. She has been through it all and still wakes up and celebrates life everyday with a smile and a laugh.” He referred to his birthday as his “birthing day.”
The celebrity chef received an outpouring of birthday wishes from family and friends. His younger son, Ryder, 19, posted a photo of his father with basketball star Steph Curry on his Instagram Stories, adding a heartfelt “Happy birthday dad❤️❤️Love you❤️”. Hunter, Fieri’s older son, shared photos with his father on Instagram, expressing gratitude for his guidance and friendship. Hunter’s fiancée, Tara Bernstein, also posted a birthday message for Fieri on her Instagram Stories.
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In a September interview on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” Fieri candidly discussed his grief and the impact of his father’s passing on his relationship with his mother. He shared that the loss had brought him significantly closer to his mother, Penny.
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Fieri reflected on the unique bond he shared with his father and how he now relies more heavily on his mother for support and conversation. He praised his mother’s resilience, calling her a “warrior” for enduring 56 years of marriage and now navigating life without her husband. He expressed immense pride in her strength and positive outlook.
