Gene Hackman's Wife Was Protective of His Health for Years, Both Are Gone: CNN/Yahoo

[appalachiablue]

Gene Hackman’s wife was protective of his health for years. She died of hantavirus and days later, he was gone. CNN, March 8, 2025.
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For years, actor Gene Hackman’s doting wife Betsy Arakawa would do whatever she could to help keep him healthy, whether it meant wearing a mask everywhere she went or encouraging him to stay fit by riding his bike or doing yoga on Zoom. In late February, the couple was found dead in their New Mexico home, a heartrending end to the life they shared. Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus and days later, Hackman, 95, died of heart disease, the New Mexico medical investigator’s office revealed Friday.

Authorities, working to lay out a timeline of what happened, said Hackman had Alzheimer’s disease and may have not realized he was alone in the days before he died. Clues as to what the couple’s life looked like before their tragic deaths could be gleaned from their last interactions with loved ones. Close and longtime friends of the couple say they seemed to be in good health at their most recent encounter. “Last time we saw them, they were alive and well,” Daniel Lenihan told CNN’s Erin Burnett last week. Barbara, Lenihan’s wife, said she had last seen Arakawa a few weeks ago at a home decor shop the two had opened together in Santa Fe.

“They were so delightful to be around,” Barbara said, adding how proud Hackman and Arakawa were of each other. “Probably never seen a couple that got along and enjoyed each other so much.” Using evidence gathered from their home, authorities pieced together what they now believe happened, answering many of the questions behind what began as a mystery. Investigators believe she died first.

Arakawa’s last known interactions were on February 11. She had a short email exchange with her massage therapist that morning and later visited a Sprouts Farmers Market, CVS pharmacy and a dog food store before returning to her gated community at around 5:15 p.m., Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. After that, there was no other known activity or outgoing communication from her, the sheriff said...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/gene-hackman-wife-protective-health-083117069.html

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. I currently live in a senior residence in Santa Fe.

Needless to say, how they died alone is a big topic of conversation.

Among the reasons I moved to this place last November, is that at my age (76) I didn't think I should be living alone any more. Even though I was in a sweet, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 3 skylights place, It's larger than I need these days. And I love not needing to cook. Plus, they keep on sending cleaners to my unit twice a week, instead of every other week. Shhhh. I won't tell them.

And apparently she got terminal inside of a very short time. Truly sad.

[appalachiablue]

2. The challenges and decisions that come wiith aging. Your place sounds pleasant.

I've enjoyed visiting Sante Fe several times and love all the history, vibes and culture.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Thanks for the news. I am sad for their deaths, loved Gene H. and his persona, and it's nice to know that his

wife was on top of his health, keeping an eagle's eye on him. It's always nice to have someone in your corner. I know that they were very private from clips I've read over the last few days, but still wondering why they weren't discovered until so late after their passing.

Perhaps they were that private, which I can understand. Alzheimer’s is a nasty, nasty disease that robs someone of every essence of what a person was at one time, and dealing w/ such a person is a challenge and heartbreak indeed.

If you are such a person (and your other SO), make sure that you have at least keep in touch w/ anyone, someone on the outside world, to say simply 'We're okay!'. Maybe invest in one of those medic alert gizmos that they have, it could mean survival vs. death or serious injury.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Many people here already have one of those gizmos,

or are planning on getting one.

[SWBTATTReg]

6. And of course, cell phones are getting pretty handy too, to have just in case, push one button and viola, help is

on the way.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. I'm not sure violas show up when

you press a button on the phone.

[appalachiablue]

5. Thanks and I understand your points. Good idea about an alert device and

having someone for regular contact. Their sad story certainly has impacted seniors and people with vulnerabilities. Thanks for replying.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Thank you. My parents lived out in the boonies in the Ozarks, all by themselves, miles from anywhere, 20+

miles from the nearest town. I always worried about them. And the sad thing about it was that when my Mom had an event (we think it was a stroke, we don't know), she slipped and fell outside in the dark, wasn't found until the morning. She was found by a neighbor's kid that morning, but the damage was done. It had rained all night too, a minor rain, but still...

It was horrible to think about here being out there all night. And the kicker was, we had convinced my brother to move there and live there, just to keep an eye on her. He was just about to.

[appalachiablue]

9. Thanks for sharing, how sad. And you were aware and working on

issues of concern re your mother, having your brother move there. What a shame and tragic way to go. My family is now dealing with some of these issues as well. Thanks again.

[SWBTATTReg]

10. Thank you. My mother was stubborn, independent, and I do respect the value of self-dependence, that it's

important to a lot of people, but sometimes they need to realize that they need a helping hand, an extra pair of eyes and/or help just in case. The human need for being independent is a very strong emotion and we respected that. At least my Mom did pass, in her way, sad as it was, she was independent to the literal end. When we all get up there in age, this streak of independence, I'm strong, and I can live on my own, is a strong emotion and overpowering emotion.