Former New England owner James Busch Orthwein, who sold the franchise to former season ticket holder Robert Kraft, died Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 84.

Kraft issued this statement upon learning of Orthwein's passing:

"I didn't know James Orthwein well, but I did share one of my life's most memorable moments with him and my family back on January 21, 1994. That was the day that I purchased the New England Patriots from Mr. Orthwein. I have a great black-and-white photo of the two of us sitting at a table that day with my entire family standing behind us. It is a day that I will never forget and a memory that I will always cherish. On behalf of my family, I would like to extend sympathies to the Orthwein family."

Here is Orthwein's obituary.