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Jax Taylor’s Dad Ronald Cauchi Dies After Cancer Battle, ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Costars Send Their Love

Jax Taylor announced that his father, Ronald Cauchi, has died after battling stage IV cancer.

Related: Celebrity Deaths in 2017: Stars We’ve Lost

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Jax Taylor at the boohoo.com L.A. pop-up store launch party with Galore magazine in Los Angeles on November 1, 2017. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for boohoo.com

“My heart is broken, I lost my best friend and the best man I have ever met last night,” the Vanderpump Rules star, 38, tweeted on Thursday, December 28. “I love you so much dad I can’t even breathe anymore, only person not letting me fall right now is my amazing girlfriend [Brittany Cartwright]. I love you dad.”

He later shared a lengthier tribute on Instagram, writing, “My dad loved his family more than anything in the world he was the ‘perfect father’ and wanted everyone to get along and be happy. Cancer took my dad way too soon but I have to hope and pray that god has a bigger plan for him. … thank you dad, thank you for giving me everything I needed in life with out a question. I hope one day I can be half the father you are. … Thank you so so much to everyone who has reached out. I haven’t been in a place to respond to everyone but it means so much.”

Where do I begin… I lost the best man I knew yesterday, he was my best friend. I didn’t go a day with out texting him a pointless question that usually drove him nuts, but I know he loved it. My dad loved his family more than anything in the world he was the “perfect father” and wanted everyone to get along and be happy. Cancer took my dad way too soon but I have to hope and pray that god has a bigger plan for him. The two things other than his family he loved more than anything were Detroit redwings hockey and cars.. He was a simple man that didn’t speak much but when he did you listened. I’ll never forget the 5am hockey practices to windsor Canada on the weekends, the numerous hockey tournaments, and the little talks we had if I had a bad game. He was always there for every practice and every game. When I came to Florida to visit it was like seeing my best friend all the time, our countless fishing trips and pub crawls going to hockey games in tampa. “ drove him crazy cuz tampa would always beat Detroit” yes my parents lived in tampa but Detroit Michigan is my fathers home. My father never said one word that was negative, he helped so many people young and old…. I could go on and on. I love you dad, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, I am so proud to be your son. Don’t worry I’ll walk jenny down the isle this summer but we are gonna need your help from above bud. Last thing.. thank you dad, thank you for giving me everything I needed in life with out a question. I hope one day I can be half the father you are. Love you so much dad… ✝️ also thank you to my amazing “rock” my girlfriend Brittany, I couldn’t and can’t do any of this with out you. My father loved you so much as well, thank you for being who you are and for helping me deal with all this, you are my angel and you always will be. 😞 Thank you so so much to everyone who has reached out. I haven’t been in a place to respond to everyone but it means so much. #fuckcancer

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Taylor’s costars responded soon after with messages of support. Cartwright tweeted, “Jax & his family are going through a really really hard time right now. Please keep them all in your prayers & respect their privacy.” Tom Schwartz wrote, “Let’s flood @mrjaxtaylor with love and compassion. So sorry for your loss my friend.” And Peter Madrigal tweeted, “I’m so sorry brother.”

Related: Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time

The Bravo personality first revealed earlier this month that his dad had been battling cancer. “Yes cancer f–king sucks, watching my father go through this is killing me.. prayers to all the families that have to deal with this awful disease,” he tweeted on December 4. “I don’t wish this disease on my worst enemy. #f–kcancer watching your loved ones battle while I sit and watch is the worst feeling.”

Related: The Most Devastating TV Deaths of 2017

Dad and I @tblightning game!! Thanks to the organization #boltssocial @budlight @drinkbeertampa #gobolts @tblightning #socialcaptain #tampa #happythanksgiving it’s an honor.

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Taylor later told The Daily Dish that Cauchi was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer around October. “It’s rough, because my dad, he’s like my idol,” he said on December 11. “My dad was always the person who never got sick, I always looked up to him. … It’s hurt our family. It’s hurt everybody. It just really sucks. During the holidays, it doesn’t make it any easier.”

The reality star echoed similar sentiments in a recent interview with Us Weekly. “What do I want for Christmas this year? I want cancer to be out of my father’s body,” he said. “If I can ask for anything right now, I just want my dad to be better.”

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