Richard Simmons' brother tell fans not to be sad in the wake of his death at 76 - and advises them to 'remember the genuine joy and love' and to 'celebrate his life'

Richard Simmons' relative Lenny has immoderate words of proposal for nan fittingness guru's fans.

'I don’t want group to beryllium sad astir my brother,' he told People.

'I want them to retrieve him for nan genuine joyousness and emotion he brought to people’s lives. He genuinely cared astir people. He called, wrote and emailed thousands of group passim his profession to connection help.

'So don’t beryllium sad. Celebrate his life,' Lenny continued.

Simmons' died connected July 13 astatine 76, just one time aft his birthday. The news came arsenic a daze to each who knew nan bubbly personage some successful existent life and from afar.

Lenny mentioned that Simmons, who precocious recovered a caller assemblage connected Twitter, had respective projects successful improvement that he was excited astir aft decades retired of nan nationalist eye. 

'He was very excited astir each of his upcoming ventures he was moving on,' Lenny told nan outlet, adding, 'We are successful shock. Please respect nan family astatine this difficult time.'

TMZ broke nan news of nan Sweatin' to nan Oldies' instructor's decease connected Saturday, July 13.

He was recovered astatine his Los Angeles location and nary foul play is suspected. 

Simmons' longtime publicist, Tom Estey, confirmed Richard's death, saying: 'The world has mislaid an angel.'

Prior to his death, Simmons shared his day plans pinch People, saying he planned to support it azygous and he decidedly would not beryllium eating immoderate cake.

'But nan candle will astir apt beryllium connected a zucchini. You know, I'm a vegetarian,' he said, adding that he would effort 'maybe 1 Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie.'

'I consciousness good! I americium grateful that I'm here, that I americium live for different day. I'll walk my day doing what I do each day, which is to thief people,' he said successful a prescient moment.

Richard has been retired of nan nationalist oculus since 2014 – and he closed his fittingness workplace Slimmons successful 2016. 

After winning a legion of fans pinch his infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped distant from nan limelight successful 2014. 

Richard took to Facebook connected his day to pen a statement to his fans. 

'Thank you...I ne'er sewage truthful galore messages astir my day successful my life! 

'I americium sitting present penning emails. Have a astir beautiful remainder of your Friday. Love, Richard.'