Captain Lee Rosbach's Son Has Passed Away
The Below Deck captain honored the memory of his late son, Joshua Lee Rosbach.
Captain Lee Rosbach's son, Joshua Lee Rosbach, has passed away. He was 42.
Captain Lee shared the news on Instagram on Monday, July 29. "This past Saturday, my beloved wife Mary Anne and I laid our youngest son, Joshua Lee Rosbach to rest. After a twenty year struggle, he finally succumbed to the demons he fought so long and so hard," he wrote. "Addiction is an insidious disease that knows no social status or geographic boundaries. Whether you live in a 10,000 sq ft mansion or a double wide trailer, the path of death, destruction and devastation it leaves remains the same."
The Below Deck captain went on to open up about the kind of giving and loving man his son was. "We loved Josh unconditionally and were proud of the man he had become in spite of his problems. There was no one I ever knew who gave more of himself to those in his life. He loved with all his being without expecting anything in return," Captain Lee shared. "We both feel a hole in our souls that will never be filled."
Captain Lee ended his post with a message to his fans. "So my message to those of you who are fighting this disease, find a way to get help no matter what. For those of you who have a friend, family member, son, or daughter who's struggling, do what ever it takes to get them the help they need. Be kind and loving, and try to enjoy every second you have with them," Captain Lee wrote. "Do not pray for our son, but please take care of your children and friends who may need it, as it isn’t too late for them."
Josh, who was one of Captain Lee's five children, shared his father's passion for the ocean, including a love of sail boats and working as a first mate aboard a yacht, according to an online tribute page set up by his family, which also includes several photos of him with his loved ones over the years
His family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in Josh's memory be made to the Humane Society of Broward County.
Below Deck chief stew Kate Chastain shared her condolences to Captain Lee and his family on Twitter on Monday. "Beautifully written statement by Captain Lee at what is certainly a devastating time," she said. "I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with Captain Lee [and] his wife Mary Anne in their home and the love they have for their family has always been a privilege to witness."
