Bobby Jenks, one of the most feared closers in baseball and a key figure in the White Sox’s 2005 World Series win, has died at 44.
The team shared the news on Saturday, July 5, confirming that Jenks passed away the day before in Sintra, Portugal, where he had been receiving cancer treatment.
Doctors initially found a blood clot in his right calf, which later moved to his lungs. What began as a deep vein thrombosis led to more testing, and the diagnosis that followed was adenocarcinoma—a serious form of stomach cancer. He had started radiation therapy but never returned home.
On the field, Jenks had his moments. He debuted in 2005, became a key piece of the White Sox bullpen that postseason, and saved four games in their title run. He followed it up with 41 saves in 2006 and another 40 in 2007. Fans knew him as a dependable arm, someone who could close out a game under pressure.
By the end of his career, he had 173 saves, a 3.53 ERA, and 351 strikeouts over 348 appearances.
But the numbers don’t show what came after. Following back surgery in 2011, Jenks was hit with complications and nerve damage that left him in severe pain. He got addicted to painkillers, later admitting he was taking more than 60 pills a day just to get through it. The surgery led to a lawsuit, a long recovery, and years of physical and mental struggle.
Despite everything he was dealing with, the two women in his life—his ex-wife Adele Romkee and his second wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos—never vanished. Things with Adele ended years ago, but there was no public bitterness between them. She remained connected through their four children. Eleni stayed with him through the worst of it. They had two kids together and were still married when he died.
Here is more about his family life.
Eleni Tzitzivacos is an Actor/Model/Businesswoman
Tzitzivacos built her name long before becoming Bobby’s life partner. She’s worked in modeling, acting, and business, with real credentials to back it.
Since 2022, she’s been listed as an actress and model with LoveTalent Agency in Santa Monica, California. Before that, she spent seven years with Lovestone Agency in a similar role.
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Her modeling career began much earlier, working with VN & Ace Models from 2003 to 2010. During that time, Eleni, who studied acting at UCLA between 2014 and 2015, walked for several established designers and took part in Fashion Week events in Portugal, Paris, and Athens for three years straight.
Outside of entertainment, she also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from the American College of Greece, completed in 2008. On her LinkedIn profile, she lists skills in negotiation, budgeting, business planning, and accounting.
Later, Eleni expanded into business. She is the founder of Moosa Jewels, a luxury jewelry brand. She also co-founded Portugal Khomas, a real estate agency. On top of that, she owns MiaAnasaRetreats—a wellness retreat hosted on catamarans and yachts sailing around the Greek islands.
Bobby Has Two Kids With Her
While Bobby and Eleni kept most of their relationship out of the spotlight, it’s believed they tied the knot sometime in the early-to-mid 2010s.
Their first son, Zeno, was born in February 2014. In a birthday post shared in 2024, Eleni called him “loving, kind, talented, smart, and goofy.”
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The couple later welcomed their daughter, Kate, on August 11, 2020. Both Bobby and his better half, Eleni, have shared photos and moments with their kids on social media over the years.
They Lived in Portugal
At the time of his death, Jenks had been living in Portugal with his wife and kids. His partner, Eleni’s family also resides there, and it’s where he was receiving treatment for his cancer.
While they were abroad, tragedy struck back in the States. Jenks’ home in Pacific Palisades was destroyed in the California wildfires. The fire took everything—including his personal baseball memorabilia. The only thing he managed to save was his World Series championship ring, which he happened to have with him in Portugal.
First Wife, Adele Romkee
Long before Eleni came into the picture, Bobby was married to Adele Romkee. Their marriage lasted over a decade, though most of it stayed out of the spotlight.
Not much is publicly known about their time together, but one thing is clear: they went their separate ways on good terms.
When news broke of Bobby’s death, Adele quietly paid tribute. She shared a throwback photo on Facebook, showing him in his No. 45 jersey with their kids by his side during a game.
Today, she lives in Prosser, Washington, keeping a low profile.
They Have Four Kids
The late MLB star shared four children with his first spouse, Adele: Cuma, Nolan, Rylan, and Jackson.
One of their children, Jackson, was born in December 2009. Just weeks after his birth, Jenks opened up to ESPN about how fatherhood had reshaped his outlook. “I no longer drink,” he said. “No alcohol at all. Not even a beer here or there. Just things like that, really focusing on the future. It was a personal choice. It hadn’t gotten too much. I just found myself not wanting to [drink] anymore. I just wanted to be more of a family man.”
At that point, he was also dealing with recovery from arm surgery. “I wanted to live a better life,” he added.
He also spoke about how much his kids mattered to him. “I think every parent wants to do better [for their kids], regardless of what’s going on in your life. You want your children to succeed and you want to be a good influence on their lives, really show them good examples and the right paths to follow to encourage them the right ways.”
