Derek Anthony Dies

The year 2013 will go down in history as one filled with more deaths than at any other time in recent bodybuilding history! First it was the death of Nasser El Sonbaty on March 20th. Then just 3 days later, we lost Canadian bodybuilding icon Joe Weider which shook the industry to no end. On November 22nd we lost Canadian IFBB Pro Greg Kovacs followed by IFBB Pro Michael Aylward a few days later. Now we sadly report that bodybuilding personality Derek Anthony has also died. Below is a statemenet from Derek's brother:

"I'm sure many of you are starting to hear the news and are wondering. It is with great sadness and shock, quite honestly, that I inform friends & family of the passing of my brother, Derek Anthony. The kid fought through more fights than I could ever imagine and he doesn't have to fight anymore. We all love him and your thoughts and prayers are certainly appreciated" -Dennis Springer. 

MUSCLE INSIDER contributor John Romano was a frequent guest on Derek's The DA Show and had this to say:

Derek, you fought a fight that will be remembered as the fight of all fights. And, at the same time, the saddest story ever told. While people might say you're at peace now and no longer in pain I know that's not true. You wanted to live. You were way too young bro… So much life ahead of you that you so badly wanted to live. I'm in tears over you….

I'm so fortunate that you were part of my life. Sometimes we fought like cats and dogs, but that was because we're brothers. I'll never forget you bro. You were a part of our industry's history and have thankfully been immortalized here. I'll never forget our days at RX Muscle and your position as an original member of the Whack Pack. And, I will cherish our interviews on the DA Show. I'm glad I got to tell you how proud I was of you for going after what you wanted. You insisted to Dave and me that you wanted your own show and since we would't give it to you, you went out and got your own. Val and I will always wear those teeshirts with pride.

You were a tremendous character with a heart as big as a watermelon. I just wish you had shared some of that good heartedness with yourself and not cared so much about what other people were saying about you. But, I guess for a guy with a heart as big as yours you just couldn't understand or ignore the mentality of a hater and you fought back. I can understand it if I put it that way. But, I'll never understand why you're gone right now.

Thank you for your humility and your humbleness in sharing your battle with the world. And showing the world what a warrior you are. There is nothing about you that isn't about strength. I know you'll own that up to being Italian.

I love you bro…. "che-se-dici" - John Romano

Our hearts go out to Derek's family, friends and fans along with all the bodybuilding legends listed above who lost their lives this year.