Ray Liotta’s fiancée has shared a heartbreaking tribute to mark the first anniversary of his death.
The Goodfellas actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic on May 26, at the age of 67.
Earlier this month, his cause of death was confirmed as acute heart failure and fluid in the lungs – officially known as pulmonary edema.
Taking to Instagram, Jacy Nittolo shared a string of sweet snaps with the late star, reflecting on a tough 12 months.
‘A year ago today I was on a flight home from the Dominican Republic by myself in shock,’ she wrote. ‘My entire world unexpectedly turned upside down.
‘I’ll never forget the beautiful woman, a complete stranger, who sat next to me and didn’t say a word. She gently grabbed and held my hand the entire flight as I cried and looked out the window. When we landed she looked at me and said everything is going to be ok. Your going to be ok.
‘I walked off the plane and met Rays sister for a connecting flight to LA and I don’t know what I would have done without Linda that night [sic] .’
‘It’s been a heavy year of pain, heartache, healing, growing and accepting what is,’ she continued.
‘Learning to smile at what was. It supposedly gets easier with time. No time will change a loss so great. You just learn to live with it and keep going, trusting that all will be ok.
‘Karsen, Dax, Chazz, Jade and Joey…. You keep me going every single day.
‘20 years ago today of all days my grandmother passed away. She helped raise me. She was the other love of my life and one of my favorites of all time. Both on 5/26.’
Liotta’s daughter, Karsen, was responsible for setting him up with Nittolo, and the couple were first linked at the beginning of 2020.
The star got down on one knee at the end of that year, but they never tied the knot.
Bob Saget’s widow, Kelly Rizzo, was among those sharing support in the comments section.
‘love you, Jacy. You have handled this past year absolutely brilliantly,’ she praised. ‘It truly feels like being thrown in the deep end of the ocean and you don’t know which way is up, but you have navigated this storm, and made it through the first hell-scape of a year.
‘I’m only a few months ahead of you, but it does keep getting a tiny bit easier day by day. And thank you for showing up for me and being a wonderful friend even thru the pain.’
A fan penned: ‘Ray was an incredible man he changed the world with his gift of expression and we are all better people because of him!’
‘He was a legend who will be love d and missed forever,’ one agreed. ‘You are such a strong beautiful woman, cherish the memories.
As an Instagram user added: ‘Always thinking of you. Never seen him happier than when he was with you x. Sending hugs and love .’
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First appear at Ray Liotta’s fiancée marks first anniversary of his death with touching tribute: ‘Learning to smile at what was’
