Spencer Giffords, father of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, died Saturday, his family said.
He was 77.
The cause of death was not specified, but his wife, Gloria Giffords, said he had been suffering from a number of health issues.
She remembered her husband as a generous man who was passionate about his family, social issues and education.
“I really miss him. He was everything to me,” she said Saturday during a telephone interview.
The couple married in 1966, she said.
Spencer Giffords suffered both physically and emotionally after his daughter was shot through the head on Jan. 8, 2011. He was not well enough to travel with his daughter and wife to events like the space shuttle liftoff in May 2011.
“He was very proud of Gabby and devastated from the shooting,” Gloria Giffords said. “He couldn’t understand how anyone could procure a weapon and managed to slaughter all those people.”
