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Kenny Jary, an 84-year-old influencer known as “Patriotic Kenny,” has died, his friend shared in an announcement on his social media accounts.
“The tears may never stop flowing,” read the emotional message posted to Instagram on May 18. “It is with the most indescribable sadness we share that Patriotic Kenny has passed. He experienced the most profound love and was Earth’s bright light. He passed surrounded by love and he was in peace.”
Jary, a Navy veteran, had a combined following of over 4 million across Instagram and TikTok, known for sharing positive messages for his followers and riding his iconic electric scooter. In March, he shared that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
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“I know your heart is breaking over the news of Kenny’s passing,” read an additional post to Jary’s Instagram Stories on May 18 by his friend Amanda, who helped establish the Patriotic Kenny Foundation. “I carry the weight of your grief on top of my own. I am so sorry for your loss. Kenny’s videos comforted so many of you in really, really dark times of your lives. You’ve been vulnerable and have opened up to us about those moments.”
Amanda continued her message by telling fans of Jary to watch his older videos, adding that they “will never be taken down.” She also encouraged his followers to donate to his foundation in his honor.
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After his mobility scooter broke a few years ago, Jary’s followers rallied together to raise enough money to replace it. He used the extra funds to help support other veterans — eventually launching the Patriotic Kenny Foundation, a nonprofit that provides mobility scooters to veterans in need, for which Jary served as the foundation’s president.
After his diagnosis, a GoFundMe to support his medical costs raised over $300,000.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Jary in an emotional video in March reacting to the outpouring of support. “That is just unbelievable, and I mean it. You know, if I can make some more kids and people happy and veterans — you know, mainly veterans — I’d be so much happier. I could go down and everything. Thank you.”
