Sally Ride died on July 23, 2012, at the age of 61 due to pancreatic cancer. She had battled the disease for about 17 months before her death

. During her illness, she underwent chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery to remove parts of her pancreas, bile duct, stomach, intestine, and gallbladder

. She passed away peacefully at her home in La Jolla, California

. Ride was the first American woman in space and a physicist, and she kept her personal life private during her lifetime. After her death, it was revealed that she had a 27-year partnership with Tam O'Shaughnessy, making Ride the first known LGBT astronaut