Rob Ford passed away after a long battle with cancer, his family announced. Rob Ford’s wife, Renata, stayed with her husband even during his worst times in the public eye and some very trying times in their personal life. The controversial former mayor of Toronto, Canada was the subject of many scandals, including substance abuse, drinking and driving, and admitting to smoking crack cocaine “in one of my drunken stupors.” When Ford wouldn’t resign from his position as mayor, the Toronto City Council removed some of his mayoral powers. He was going to run again until he was forced to resign and run for City Council instead after being hospitalized for cancer in 2014. Although there have been rumors periodically about the couple divorcing, the two were still together when Rob died. Who is Renata and just how close were she and Rob Ford?
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Renata & Rob Met in High School & Married in 2000
Rob Ford & his wife Renata leave the Conservative rally at the Toronto Congress Centre #TOpoli #cdnpoli #elxn42 http://t.co/94htiYwmyr
Renata and Rob Ford originally met when they were in high school. Marriage didn’t happen right away, however. The two were married in 2000 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, known as being one of the finest golf courses and a site of the Canadian Open, Toronto Life reported.
In 2014, a video of Rob ranting in a bar was released by the Toronto Sun. In the video, Rob said that he was in a divorce with Renata and he was going to the doghouse. The week before, the Star reported that Ford got in a fight with Justin Bieber and later said that his wife and children hated him. The divorce, however, never happened and it was never clear if he was just ranting from being drunk.
As for Renata, she rarely makes press appearances and many media sources have said that little is known about her. She tends to avoid confrontations or conversations with the press, Toronto Life has said. Yahoo News noted in 2013 that since election night of 2010, she was never seen at a significant public event. In mid-2013, she had a rare interview with the Toronto Sun. She said that she has no animosity toward the media and when she sees them outside the house in the rain, she kind of feels sorry for them.
2. They Have Two Children, Stephanie & Dougie
Rob Ford’s wife Renata & son Dougie arrive for the inauguration. His mother Diane & brother Randy also here #TOpoli http://t.co/2E6S04GHhB
Renata and Rob have two children together: Stephanie and Doug. Stephanie is about 10 and Dougie is around 8 years old, according to Toronto Life. The two children have been kept mostly out of the spotlight. Once, Rob told reporters that his most relaxing time is when he spends time with Stephanie and Doug.
The Huffington Post reported in 2014 that Renata had tried on multiple occasions to get her husband into rehab before things got bad. In 2010, she tried after he was elected mayor, but didn’t succeed. In 2013, she told the Toronto Sun that they were waiting until their children are older to explain politics to them. “They are used to reporters,” she said. “They just think they are all there because they really love their father.”
3. Rob Was Charged With Threatening to Kill His Wife in 2008, but the Charges Were Later Dropped
Councillor Rob Ford heads to the meeting with his Wife Renata, Mom Diane, and Mike Ford. #TOpoli @TheTorontoSun http://t.co/1SwZ0Xtwuq
Over the years, Renata and her mother have made a lot of calls to the police about serious abuse that Renata has dealt with from her husband, Toronto Life reported. In March 2008, police responded to a 911 call and Rob was charged with assault and threatening to kill his wife, The Star reported. The charges were later dropped due to inconsistencies in his wife’s statements. In 2012, police arrived at Ford’s house in the early morning to find Ford yelling into his cell phone while the driver of a limo and a “scantily clad woman’ argued in the driveway. In December 2012, police responded to a call from Renata’s parents home about a dispute she was having with a taxi driver. Police observed that she had numerous scrapes, cuts, and bruises on her body, The Star reported. No charges were filed and Renata, who had been drinking, wouldn’t cooperate with the investigation.
Meanwhile, Rob Ford himself claimed that he had made the 911 call, according to his lawyer. He said he called because he was getting verbal abuse from his wife, who was acting irrationally, Toronto Star reported. Renata’s parents told a reporter that she was getting help from a doctor and was too upset to talk to media.
In 2011 on Christmas morning, Renata’s mom called the police from Renata and Rob’s home, saying that Rob had been drinking and was threatening to take their kids to Florida. Rob’s brother Doug, who is also Rob’s campaign manager and a politician himself, later released a statement that it had all been a misunderstanding. He provided the press with photos of Rob at a pool with his children in Florida, saying there had been no disagreement.
4. Ford’s Former Chief of Staff Published a Book That Shared Many of the Fights Between Rob & Renata
Rob Ford watches in silence with his wife Renata as Chow declared out of the race. http://t.co/X4gKLO0ltw
In 2015, Rob Ford’s former chief of staff, Mark Towhey, published a book where he talked about how difficult it was to do damage control while Ford was mayor, Maclean’s reported. Towhey was let go after the crack scandal involving Ford broke. But he still bore the brunt of much of the hardship of managing Ford’s career. He wrote that in 2012, he was woken up around 2:30 a.m. by a call from his drunk boss. He said that Rob was leaving the house and wanted Towhey to witness it over the phone. Renata also sounded agitated, screaming in the background and pleading with Rob. He said he could hear them cursing and screaming at each other.
Towhey wrote: “I strain to hear the kids, but there’s no indication they’re there. Maybe Rob and Renata are in the basement. Maybe the kids sleep upstairs.”
He went on, writing that Renata had a gun, was locked up in a room, and Rob was threatening to shoot her (although he didn’t have a gun himself.) The conversation went on for almost two hours, with Rob’s daughter Stephanie waking up at one point and sleepily telling her dad that everyone in the house was being good.
5. After He Was Diagnosed With Cancer, Rob Asked People to Look Out for Renata & His Children
After he was diagnosed with cancer again in October, Ford’s typically positive attitude took a downturn. He said that if he died before his time, he hoped others would look out for his family.
A “Get Well” webpage was created by Doug for his brother, Rob, in order to encourage him and his family. The webpage has more than 3,000 comments wishing him the best and praying for him.
Thank you all for the kind words & best wishes as @TorontoRobFord really enjoys reading them t.co/BOJBv96Uh5
