Much of the professional life of Captain Lee Rosbach plays out on the Bravo show Below Deck. But little did anyone know of the pain of his personal life, until now.
[RELATED: 6 Best Not “Real Housewives” Shows You Should Be Watching on Bravo]
“This past Saturday, my beloved wife Mary Anne and I laid our youngest son, Joshua Lee Rosbach to rest,” Lee wrote on his Instagram page on Monday (July 29) alongside a picture of his son. “After a twenty year struggle, he finally succumbed to the demons he fought so long and so hard. Addiction is an insidious disease that knows no social status or geographic boundaries.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Captain Lee Rosbach (@captain_lee_rosbach) on
Joshua Lee Rosbach was 42 at the time of his death.
“We loved Josh unconditionally and were proud of the man he had become in spite of his problems,” Captain Lee continued in his emotional Instagram post. “There was no one i ever knew who gave more of himself to those in his life. He loved with all his being without expecting anything in return. We both feel a hole in our souls that will never be filled.”
He went on to reach out to those suffering from addiction. “So my message to those of you who are fighting this disease, find a way to get help no matter what. For those of you who have a friend, family member, son, or daughter who’s struggling, do what ever it takes to get them the help they need. Be kind and loving, and try to enjoy every second you have with them. Do not pray for our son, but please take care of your children and friends who may need it, as it isn’t too late for them.”
A number of Captain Lee Rosbach’s Below Deck co-stars quickly headed to their social media pages to express their sadness over the death, including Kate Chastain.
“Beautifully written statement by Captain Lee at what is certainly a devastating time,” she wrote on her Twitter page also on Monday (July 29.) “I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with Captain Lee and his wife Mary Anne in their home and the love they have for their family has always been a privilege to witness.”
Beautifully written statement by Captain Lee at what is certainly a devastating time. I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with Captain Lee & his wife Mary Anne in their home and the love they have for their family has always been a privilege to witness. https://t.co/jlglqLYwR3
— Kate Chastain (@Kate_Chastain) July 29, 2019
Our condolences go out to Captain Lee Rosbach and his family during this incredibly painful time.