Nick Gilbert, the son of Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and his wife Jennifer, passed away on Saturday at the age of 26. He had been fighting neurofibromatosis (NF1) since he was born. The genetic condition causes the growth of noncancerous tumors on nerve pathways in the body. His death was announced by the Ira Kaufman Chapel in Southfield, Michigan, where the Gilberts live.
A Lucky Charm for the Cavs
Dan Gilbert is the founder and chairman of Rocket Companies and has owned the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2005. He was known for frequently sending Nick to the NBA draft lottery to sit in the team’s chair. With Nick, wearing his trademark bow tie, in the seat, the Cavs twice got the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery. The team used the 2011 pick on Kyrie Irving and the 2013 pick on Anthony Bennett.
A Legacy of Bravery and Philanthropy
Nick Gilbert inspired many people with his bravery in the face of his genetic condition. In 2017, the Gilbert family launched a foundation to fund research toward finding a cure for Type 1 neurofibromatosis. The foundation has since funded over $18 million in research grants. Last season, the Cavaliers joined with the Gilberts’ foundation and the Children’s Tumor Foundation to start the Bow Tie campaign to raise money and awareness for NF1. The team dedicated their season to Nick and others affected by the condition and wore bowtie emblems on their warmups in honor of him.
Nick Gilbert’s funeral will be held on Tuesday at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. The Gilbert family is in the thoughts and prayers of many, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who took to Twitter to express his condolences.
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