Jerry Springer's 'Dancing With The Stars' Partner Speaks Out On His Passing

Talk show host Jerry Springer lost his private battle with pancreatic cancer on Thursday.

The 79-year-old former politician was best known for his lengthy run hosting "The Jerry Springer Show," which featured over 5,000 episodes spread out across 27 seasons that ran from 1991 to 2018.

That being said, the former Mayor of Cincinnati made an appearance in plenty of other shows, including "Dancing With The Stars." His partner, Australian dancer Kym Johnson-Herjavec, took to Instagram to lament his sudden passing.

On Thursday, the Australian dancer took to Instagram to pay tribute to the late talk show host. “My heart is absolutely broken,” she wrote alongside several photos of the late talk show host. “Jerry was many things... Mayor, politician, news anchor, icon, tv host, great friend, great singer, and a pretty good dancer! But mostly, an incredibly loving family man.”

“He cherished his family above anything else and my heart goes out to His beautiful wife Micki and daughter Katie and his grandson who was the apple of his eye,” he continued. Although Jerry was married to Micki from 1973 to 1994, many suspected that they had gotten remarried, as Jerry often referred to her as “my wife” in previous interviews. However, it has not been confirmed.

“I met Jerry when I first came to the US for my first season with DWTS,” she continued. “I was lucky enough to be partnered with Jerry and I instantly adored him. He became like a father figure to me. He was so smart, kind, self-deprecating, and just a great man. He wanted to do DWTS to learn to dance for his daughter's wedding! I will treasure the memory of teaching Katie and Jerry a waltz for her wedding for the rest of my life. The love they had for each other was so beautiful.”

“He will be missed but I feel so lucky to have known him the way I did,” she concluded. “Rest in peace sweet Jerry.”

Jerry Springer appeared on the show’s third season in 2006 and was partnered with Australian professional dancer Kym Johnson-Herjavec. The two performed a Paso Doble to Charlotte Church’s “Habañera” and another performance to Patti Page’s “Tennessee Waltz.”

“Dancing With The Stars” judge Len Goodman, who passed away on Saturday of bone cancer at age 78, told PEOPLE that Jerry had been "hoping to stay in [the competition] long enough so he could learn to waltz and dance it at his daughter's wedding.”

Jerry was eliminated from the show in fifth place, but he admitted that the show “turned out to be really fun” in an interview with the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast last year.

"I would never do it again because I realized how difficult it was," he said at the time. "What was fun about it is that I was totally outside my comfort zone. And I, as much as possible, tried to turn it into my comfort zone by instead of selling my dancing, which was hopeless, I would tell jokes. ... I would keep begging each week, 'Please don't vote for me.'"

In a statement to PEOPLE, a longtime friend of the family and spokesperson, Jene Galvin, revealed that plans for funeral services and a memorial gathering are currently in the works as he praised Jerry's ability to connect with people for his success, both in front of and behind the cameras.

"Jerry's ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word," Galvin said. "He's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart, and humor will live on."

The statement continued, "Funeral services and a memorial gathering are currently being developed. To remember Jerry, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, you consider following his spirit and make a donation or commit to an act of kindness to someone in need or a worthy advocacy organization. As he always said, 'Take care of yourself, and each other.'"