- Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, daughter of Junior Bridgeman, released a statement about her father’s passing.
- Junior Bridgeman, a former NBA player and businessman, died Tuesday at the age of 71.
- Bridgeman was known for his successful business ventures after his basketball career, including owning multiple franchise restaurants.
Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, owner and CEO of EBONY and Jet magazines and daughter of Junior Bridgeman, released a statement Wednesday regarding her father’s passing, calling him an “extraordinary family patriarch” and “man of deep faith.”
In a post on Instagram, Bridgeman Sklenar said the family is asking for privacy as they grieve “a man whose strength, wisdom, and love touched so many lives” following his sudden death Tuesday in Louisville.
“As both a daughter and a business leader, I am forever grateful for his mentorship, guidance, and the powerful example he set in both family life and professional excellence,” she wrote. “He showed me what it meant to lead with integrity, to balance entrepreneurship with parenthood, and to create positive lasting change in our community. His guiding presence and inspirational spirit will be forever missed.”
More: Junior Bridgeman, businessman and former NBA player dies in Louisville. 9 facts to know
Bridgeman, 71, died Tuesday after suffering a medical emergency at the Galt House Hotel during a fundraising event. The billionaire entrepreneur and former basketball star for UofL and the Milwaukee Bucks was mourned by many in Louisville and through the sports world, with many remembering his mentorship and philanthropy following his retirement.
Bridgeman previously played for UofL in the 1970s before playing in the NBA for more than a decade. Once his basketball career came to an end, he began his entrepreneurial journey, purchasing multiple franchise restaurant locations and a Coca-Cola bottling operation. Bridgeman also purchased EBONY and Jet magazines in 2020 following their bankruptcy.
This story may update.
Reporter Connor Giffin contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at [email protected].
