When you see Bozoma Saint John, you see a powerhouse. She’s the marketing executive who’s dominated at Netflix, Uber, and Apple. She’s now a fan favorite on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. But behind that high-gloss, "badass" exterior is a story that is honestly gut-wrenching. Many fans watching her today are asking: what happened to Bozoma Saint John's husband?
It isn't just a story about a loss. It’s a story about a complicated marriage, a terminal diagnosis, and a final, urgent reconciliation that changed her entire life philosophy.
The Tragic Loss of Peter Saint John
The short answer is that Peter Saint John died of cancer on December 11, 2013. He was only 44 years old.
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The specifics are even tougher to hear. Peter was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, which is a particularly aggressive and rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. From the moment he received the diagnosis to the day he passed away, only about seven months had passed. It was a whirlwind of hospital visits, chemotherapy, and the dawning realization that the medicine wasn't going to win.
But what makes the story of what happened to Bozoma Saint John's husband so deeply moving is where they were as a couple when the news hit.
They were separated.
Honestly, they were on the verge of a permanent split. They had been married for ten years, but the weight of previous tragedies—including the loss of their first daughter, Eve, who died shortly after being born prematurely—had put an unbearable strain on their relationship. They were living apart and co-parenting their daughter, Lael. Then, the terminal diagnosis changed everything.
A Race Against Time
When Peter realized his time was running out, he didn't want a divorce. He wanted his family back. He reportedly gave Bozoma a "short list" of things he wanted to do before he died:
- Cancel the divorce proceedings immediately.
- Fix the wrongs in their relationship.
- Spend every remaining second together.
Bozoma has spoken candidly about this period, describing it as "dizzying" and "numbing." They moved back in together, effectively condensing years of healing into just a few months. They decided to choose love over the lingering resentment that had kept them apart. It was a period of intense anticipatory grief, where every morning was a gift and every night was a reminder of what was coming.
Living Life Urgently
If you’ve ever seen Bozoma use the hashtag #TheUrgentLife or seen her book of the same name, that mantra comes directly from Peter.
When the oncologist told them that there was nothing more they could do, the advice was simple but impossible: "Each day is a gift... you should plan what you want to do every day."
That directive stuck.
After Peter died, Bozoma didn't just crawl into a hole. She decided to live with a ferocity that most people can't imagine. She stopped waiting for "someday." She stopped saving the "nice shoes" for a rainy day. She realized that the future is never promised, a lesson she learned in the hardest way possible.
Career and Personal Transformation
Many people don't realize that her meteoric rise in the corporate world—moving to senior roles at Apple, then Uber, then becoming the CMO of Netflix—happened after this loss. She has credited her professional fearlessness to Peter’s death. Once you’ve faced the "scariest thing in your life" at a hospital bedside, a boardroom meeting or a high-stakes marketing campaign doesn't seem that intimidating anymore.
She often says she now lives out the dreams for both of them.
The Legacy of Peter Saint John
Peter wasn't just "the husband of a famous executive." He was a man of deep faith, a warrior who fought his illness with incredible courage. An advertising executive himself, he was known for his spirit and his devotion to his family.
Today, Bozoma continues to honor him by being open about their story. On RHOBH and in her memoir, she doesn't shy away from the "messy" parts—the separation, the anger, and the trauma. She’s shown that you can be a grieving widow and a high-powered executive at the same time. You don't have to pick one.
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Actionable Takeaways for Navigating Loss
If you are following Bozoma’s journey or dealing with a similar "unimaginable loss," here are a few insights drawn from her experience:
1. Don't wait to reconcile Bozoma and Peter were lucky enough to have seven months to fix their relationship. Not everyone gets that. If there is someone you love but are "separated" from by ego or hurt, consider if those reasons would matter if time were suddenly short.
2. Embrace "Anticipatory Grief" It’s okay to start grieving before the person is gone. Acknowledging the terminal nature of an illness allows you to be present for the "good days" that remain.
3. Choose Urgency Over Recklessness Living urgently doesn't mean being careless. It means making active choices every day. Take the trip. Call the friend. Stop counting on a future that hasn't arrived yet.
4. Lean into your Village Bozoma has often talked about the support of her family and friends during Peter’s final months and the years of single motherhood that followed. Don't try to be a "badass" alone.
If you want to understand the full depth of this story, the best next step is to read her memoir, The Urgent Life. It moves past the headlines and provides a raw, unfiltered look at the woman behind the brand.