Myra Kraft: Patriots Owner Loses Wife After Prolonged Battle with Cancer

Myra Kraft, the wife of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, has succumbed to cancer after a long fight against the illness.

Kraft was very active in the Boston community, helping lead the Patriots' community service efforts from her post as the director of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

Her work made her a prominent figure, and Kraft was named one of the 20 most powerful women in Boston by Boston Magazine.

Kraft's passing is a big blow to the organization, which issued a statement in the wake of the news.

Per SacBee.com:

"

"Words cannot express the deep sorrow that we feel in learning of the passing of Myra Hiatt Kraft," the club's statement read. "Myra passed away early this morning after a courageous battle with cancer. We are all heartbroken. The global philanthropic community and the New England Patriots family have suffered a great loss."

"

While Kraft was active with her charity work, she also played a role in the team's personnel decisions, even if it was a one-time affair.

When New England took Christian Peter in the 1996 NFL draft, Kraft was disgusted by the player's history of violence against women and forced her husband to take a stand against his immoral behavior.

The Patriots waived their rights to Peter, who went on to a short and unremarkable NFL career.

Kraft was a strong woman with a high sense of morals and the fortitude to do what was right not just for herself and her husband's team, but for the world in general.

Few women have been as active in their community as Kraft, and with her passing, the Boston area has lost a titan of philanthropy. 

She fought bravely to the very end and she will be sorely missed by the Patriots and the whole New England area.