Bernie Parent, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, passed away on September 21, 2025, at the age of 80. Though no official cause of death was released, it was reported that the ice hockey legend died peacefully in his sleep after experiencing back pain the day before.
The Flyers confirmed the news in a statement, remembering Parent as “a true legend, one of the most famous and beloved players, and most popular figures in the history of the organization and city of Philadelphia.”
He was a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, honored as the NHL’s top goaltender in 1974 and 1975. In those same years, Parent anchored the Flyers’ “Broad Street Bullies” to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, securing his place as one of the game’s greats.
His playing career came to an abrupt end in 1979 when a stick slipped through his mask and struck his eye, causing permanent vision damage. At only 34, Parent was forced to retire. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.
Parent is survived by his wife, Gini, and their three children. Here is everything you need to know about his family!
Who Was Bernie Parent’s Wife?
Parent was married to Gini Gramaglia Parent, the owner of Gini G’s Hair Design Studio in Southampton, Pennsylvania. The two wed on July 23, 2016, in Avalon, New Jersey, and stayed together until his passing in 2025.
It was Bernie’s second marriage, and the large age gap between him and Gini often caught attention. Still, Gini was always open about their life together, frequently sharing their moments online.
Though they kept many details of their relationship private, Gini remained a constant presence by Bernie’s side, balancing her role as a salon owner with life alongside one of Philadelphia’s most beloved sports figures.
Parent Had Three Kids With His Ex-Wife, Carol
Before his marriage to Gini, Parent was married to his first wife, Carol. Very little is known about their relationship or divorce, but together they raised three children — two sons and a daughter, Kim Parent.
Kim became well known in the Flyers community in 2020 after Philadelphia forward Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
She helped create the now-iconic “Oskar Strong” t-shirts alongside her business partner, Jodi Smith of Biscuit Tees. The shirts were first made for Flyers players but quickly spread across the league, with even rivals like Sidney Crosby and the Penguins wearing them.
What began as a small effort to raise $5,000 to $10,000 for the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer program turned into something much larger. Within a month, more than 11,000 shirts had been sold worldwide, raising roughly $215,000. Kim and Jodi ran the operation out of her mother’s basement in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, often working until the early hours of the morning to meet demand.
Flyers captain Claude Giroux later called the movement “pretty amazing.”
