Richard Blum, Husband Of CA Sen. Feinstein, Dies At 86

CALIFORNIA — Richard Blum, who was the husband of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, died on Sunday. He was 86.

He died at home among family after a long battle with cancer, Feinstein announced in a statement Monday morning.

The pair had been married for more than 40 years.

"My heart is broken today. My husband was my partner and best friend for more than 40 years. He was by my side for the good times and for the challenges. I am going to miss him terribly," the Democratic senator said.

Blum was the chairman of Blum Capital Partners, an equity investment management firm. He also founded the American Himalayan Foundation, was a friend of the Dalai Lama and worked to end human trafficking.

"Richard Blum lived an extraordinary life, and he left this world better than he found it – lifting up our communities and helping connect people from across the globe. He was a model Californian, serving the state and our higher education students wholeheartedly as a UC Regent. Our hearts are with Senator Feinstein and Richard’s entire family," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

He is survived by Feinstein, his brother Robert; daughters Annette, Heidi and Eileen; stepdaughter Katherine and her husband Rick Mariano; and grandchildren Mitchell and Spencer Riley, Lea, Tristan, Julien and Benjamin Bourgade, and Eileen Mariano.