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The Irish Sun

‘Little did we know' – Melanie reveals heartbreak promise she made to late RTE legend boyfriend DAY before his death

LATE RTE icon Gerry Ryan's former girlfriend has shared a heartwarming tribute to the "love of her life". South African Ambassador to Ireland, Melanie Verwoerd, dated the beloved radio host for two years before his sudden passing in 2010. 2 Gerry Ryan and Melanie Verwoerd dated for two years from 2008-2010 2 Gerry died suddenly from a heart attack in 2010 This year marks 15 years since She told the Sunday Independent: "I can honestly say that not a single day has passed where I did not think of him. "A sign not only of the immense love I had and still have for Gerry, but also of the phenomenal man that he was." Melanie highlighted how Gerry would "always be the love of her life" and added: "Although the grief has become bearable, the memories have not faded." READ MORE IN GERRY RYAN The heartbroken lady revealed that day-to-day, she will come across things that remind her of Gerry. She said: "When I smell Issey Miyake perfume, or hear Sona La Dolce Vita over the radio, I am instantly brought back to the happy times we shared." The author even recalled a beautiful story from one of her final moments with the presenter. Melanie said: "But it is cherry blossoms I will associate with Gerry and our love. The day before he died, we stood under one in full bloom and promised that when that tree flowered again, all would be better." Most read in News TV "Little did we know what lay ahead." After Gerry's death, Melanie even had a bench made in Herbert Park to remember her partner. Bonnie Ryan shares traumatic moment she found out her dad passed away On the bench, a gold plaque has a line from one of Gerry's favourite songs , Come What May, embedded into it. Gerry was a doting dad to five kids, Lottie, 2FM star , Lottie opened up on the traumatic loss of their dad, and how she wishes he could have been alive to meet her baby son. HOST'S HEARTBREAK The radio presenter told "I think he would have been chasing him, running around the rooftops, doting over him… he would have been an incredible granddad." The 39-year-old emphasised that "nobody knows" what their family has gone through since Gerry's death, except for her siblings. opened up on the traumatic loss of their dad, and how she wishes he could have been alive to meet her baby son. The grief-struck star told "I think he would have been chasing him, running around the rooftops, doting over him… he would have been an incredible granddad." The 39-year-old emphasised that "nobody knows" what their family has gone through since Gerry's death, except for her siblings.