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Ron Duguay’s popularity and influence spread far beyond the Rangers and the hockey world.
His death at the age of 69 after a fight with colon cancer on Thursday left a void in celebrity chef Andrew Molen’s life.
Molen, whose resume includes notable stops at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay at The London Hotel and The Plaza Food Hall at The Plaza Hotel, said Duguay was someone he came to see not only as a friend, but as a “mentor.”
“I am completely heartbroken by this news. Having known him my entire life, he wasn’t just one of my best friends — he was my mentor,” Molen told The Post.
“We traveled everywhere and spent so much of our lives together. I’ll always smile remembering the time I introduced him to tequila, and he told me, ‘Because of you, I love tequila.’ I’ll also never forget the moment I was right there with him when he first started talking to [Duguay’s girlfriend and former vice presidential candidate] Sarah Palin. He was so incredibly excited to meet her, and I am so grateful that she was such a beautiful, supportive part of his life right until the very end.”
Molen’s connection with Duguay and the Rangers runs deep, as his mother, Sanda, owned NYC institutions Tatou and Swells, helping form a deep connection with the Blueshirts, including Duguay.
Duguay, an All-Star with the Rangers during the 1981-82 season, notched 340 points (164 goals, 176 assists) during eight seasons in New York and ended his 12-year NHL career with 620 points. For a younger generation, he was known for his role as an analyst on MSG Network from 2007-18.
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But Duguay is known for far more than his role as a player, and was one truly a hockey pioneer for being at the intersection of sports and pop culture. From commercials to Studio 54 to A-list friends and relationships, Duguay’s life is defined by more than what he did on the ice.
Molen added that he admired Duguay for his traits behind closed doors, particularly with his family.
“Beyond the public eye, I always loved how remarkably close and tightly knit his family is,” Molen said. “Seeing how fiercely supportive they were, standing by his side with so much love all the way until the end, was a true testament to the man he was.
“He was a living legend, and though he is gone, he will never be forgotten. His unwavering dedication to his family, his beloved New York Rangers, and all of his friends is what made him the truly great man he was. I am so incredibly proud to have called him my friend. Rest in peace, legend!”
