BOSTON – Boston College legend and former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie lost both of his parents on Wednesday.
Flutie's father, Richard, and his mother, Joan, died Wednesday morning. They had been married for 56 years.
"My Dad had been ill and died of a heart attack in the hospital and my Mom, less than an hour later had a sudden heart attack and passed away," Flutie wrote on his Facebook page. "They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it."
"My Dad coached us as kids and my Mom would work the concession stands," Flutie wrote. " They were incredible parents and my family and I will miss them both."
The Fluties leave three other children, in addition to Doug.
Flutie's "Hail Mary" pass to win a game against Miami in 1984 is widely considered to be among the greatest plays in collegiate sports history.
Flutie, now 53, won the Heisman Trophy that year, though the voting had been completed before the "Miracle in Miami" pass.
"Without the Hail Mary pass I think I could have been very easily forgotten," said Flutie years later.
He played for the New England Patriots from 1987-1989 and played several seasons in the Canadian Football League before finishing his career with the Patriots in 2005.