It’s been over one and half a decade since Gordon Gronkowski and Diane Walters, the parents of former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, parted ways.
The couple divorced in 2008 after having five sons in a row, including a 19-year-old Rob.
After their separation, Diane walked down the aisle with her second husband, Mike, and her ex-spouse, Gordon, moved on with his current partner, Lisa G. Both of them now have separate lives and are doing pretty well individually.
While Rob’s father, Gordy, is the president of G & G Fitness, his mother, Diane, has been involved in philanthropy.
In 2019, talking to 10 Wjar, Rob’s mom showcased her happiness for being able to help others. Meanwhile, she said
We’re glad to be giving back to the community that is giving us so much
Via 10 Wjar
A couple of years ago, she ventured as an author. On June 1, 2022, Rob Gronkowski shared a post on his Instagram, expressing his pride in his mother, who managed to publish her recipe book in her old age. His caption read,
That’s my Momma @therealmommagronk instead of reading my elementary books to me, she is now reading her own book she wrote #outnumbered ! My mom is a beast who gets it done!! Grab a copy now on Amazon and learn about her amazing recipe’s and how she managed 5 Boys!! ❤️
Well, Rob has a pretty close-knit relationship with his mother, Diane, who supported him in every step of his life.
On September 25, 2023, Rob Gronkowski dedicated a post to his mom on her birth anniversary and wrote,
Happy Birthday Momma. Thank you for always being there for me, Momma, no matter the situation. Your kindness and caring ways never go unnoticed! You deserve a birthday everyday!
Via Facebook
Similarly, Diane is also a super proud mother of her five sons, Rob, Dan, Glenn, Chris, and Gordie Gronkowski Jr., who succeeded in having a fine NFL career.
Rob Gronkowski Credited His Father, Gordon, For His Athletic Career!
Gordon Gronkowski, Rob’s father, played football at Syracuse University for four years, from 1977 to 1981, and soon stepped into the high-end fitness equipment business.
Since he has an athletic background, he pushed all his four sons, including Rob Gronkowski, to pursue sports since they were young.
Talking to Vanity Fair back in 2015, Gordon said,
I coached each of my sons either in hockey or baseball, and they loved it. I sort of pushed them into sports a little, but if they’d decided they didn’t want to play, that would have been fine, too. All I asked of them was if they started something, that they finish it.
Via Vanity Fair
He further stated,
In eighth grade, I said to each of them in turn, “If you want to keep pursuing sports, you need to start training.
According to Gordon, his oldest son, Gordon Jr., was a little hesitant to go for training at first, but after his other brothers, Danny, Chris, and Rob, hopped into it, he also went for it and made their career in sports.
Whatever the Gronkowski siblings are today is because of the path that their father showed to them when they were still young. On June 21, 2020, Rob mentioned the vital role that his dad played in his and his sibling’s life, writing,
Thank you for showing us the way, everything from the motivation and techniques necessary to become better athletes as kids, to building your fitness business from the ground up and still going strong 30 years later, and the importance of living and enjoying life every day Gordy Gronkowski. Thanks for being a great role model 🙌
Well, Rob’s father, Gordon’s ancestry, belongs to Poland and has an athletic background. His grandfather, Ignatius Gronkowski, represented the United States in cycling at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Ignatius had a five-world record in sports. Gordon followed in his footsteps and played collegiate football, and then his five sons also stepped in as athletes, whom he shared with his ex-wife, Diane Walters.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Rob Gronkowski was born ‘Robert James Gronkowski’ on May 14, 1989, in Amherst, New York. He is currently 35 years old.
- His professional football career began in 2010 after the New England Patriots drafted him in the second round with the 42nd overall pick.
- He first announced his retirement on March 29, 2019, and a year later, he signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His second retirement occurred on June 21, 2022.
