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Widow Describes Sandy Hook Husband As Her 'Champion'

Three days after the death of her husband, Jeremy Richman, his wife, Jennifer Hensel, called the Sandy Hook father her "champion," in a letter posted on a GoFundMe page.

Jeremy Richman

Jeremy Richman

Photo Credit: Avielle Foundation

The page, started by family and friends, following Richman's suicide on Monday to help Hensel and her two children with expenses, described him as a "dedicated father, husband, son, and friend."

The two, who have been together for 28 years, are the parents of Avielle Richman, who was killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy. The couple also had two children after Avielle's death including Imogen, 4, and Owen, 2.

On the page, Hensel writes about her years with Richman, 49, and their family.

"Side by side since 1991, Jeremy and I walked a path of deep friendship, marriage, and parenthood," she wrote. "As you may know, our first born, our beautiful Avielle was murdered at Sandy Hook school in 2012."

In 2013, the couple founded the Avielle Foundation to honor her life: www.aviellefoundation.com, to advance brain research into the roots of violence

"The work of the Avielle Foundation is meaningful," Hensel said. "But my champion and the love of my life is the person who had every tool in the toolbox at his disposal. He succumbed to the grief that he could not escape. Now we also honor Jeremy through the continued work of our foundation."

The grieving wife and mother went on to describe the job her children bring to her life: "Imogen and Owen are imaginative, fun, caring, sweet, curious and RIDICULOUSLY loving. They are a true reflection of Jeremy and me," she added.

To date, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $8,000 of a $30,000 goal. 

"To parent our children without my champion shatters my heart and I will love my best friend forever," Hensel said. "I am grateful for your support and donations."

To donate, click here. 

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