Jessel Taank announced via social media that her father, Kishor Taank, died in February. He was 68.
“My Dad. My Hero. Our North Star ✨,” the “Real Housewives of New York City” star, 45, wrote on Instagram Friday alongside a carousel of photos highlighting her father’s life.
She also shared cherished family memories and revealed he lived from May 1956 to February 2025.
“If lust for life were a person, it would be my Dad,” Jessel added in a lengthy message featured in the slideshow. “His adventurous spirit was rooted in his beloved Kisumu, Kenya, where he spun tales of his mischievous childhood – climbing banana trees, stirring up trouble. A true Tarzan. That was his essence.”
The Bravo star also remembered her father as “fiercely passionate,” “hot-headed” and “loyal to a fault.”
She also recalled his “love affair with navy blue,” adding that it would “annoy” her, as it’s “the ultimate dad color” and shared her late dad “collected Lacoste polo shirts,” which he’d save “for a special occasion.”
Jessel said Kishor also “loved talking about money — our, other people’s,” as she recalled a funny anecdote in which her dad reprimanded her for her spending habits.
“Always the finance guy. He interrogated us about our spending habits. ‘You have to save your money,’ he warned. ‘But that’s not fun,’ I’d argue. ‘Being broke isn’t fun,’ he’d counter. We never listened,” she said.
Jessel pointed out, as well, that her “love for India and [her] culture” was inspired by her father.
She concluded in her post, “I’m so grateful you were my dad. We would choose you every time.”
Jessel received a lot of support from her fellow “RHONY” co-stars, including Sai De Silva, Jenna Lyons and Ubah Hassan, who wrote in part, “Jessel! My heart aches for you and your family.”
Erin Lichy — whose own father, Eliahu Yitzhari, died last October — added in the comments section of the post, “My heart is shattered for you.
“I still can’t wrap my head around it. What a wonderful husband and father. Here for you every step of the way love you so much 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔”
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