As much as Gabrielle Union Wade loves her husband, even her parents could not have asked for a better son-in-law. The 3x NBA champ takes an active involvement in the lives of his in-laws. You may have come across Gab’s post in April this year when Wade celebrated his mother-in-law’s birthday. Dwyane Wade, however, is not just there for celebrations and laughter but stands strong with them when things get tough.

Now, some fans may be unaware that D-Wade’s father-in-law, Sylvester Union, was diagnosed with dementia. As per Gab, her father is mentally in a version of his own world. A world where The Flash has not yet retired from the league and continues to dominate the floor. Amid such circumstances, Gab and Wade continue to stand beside the 80-year-old as his pillars of support.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade’s celebration of Sylvester’s 80th birthday

Sylvester, a military veteran who served as a sergeant, was mostly away during her childhood because of his career, leaving Gabrielle’s mom, Theresa, to take on much of the parenting. Yet, despite that distance, the bond she shares with her dad is unmistakable. In fact, in the early days of Gab and Dwyane’s relationship, her dad was known to be a bit protective of his little girl.

However, he could not protect his marriage as Sylvester and Theresa divorced after 30 years of being together. But Gabrielle always credits them for showing her how to handle family dynamics with grace. No wonder she managed to pull off a party full of family and friends with such ease. With Sylvester battling dementia, Gab has been making sure to soak in all the time she has with him, and this birthday was no exception.

In a heartwarming Instagram post, Union Wade gave us a peek into the celebration. She shared that although dementia has affected her dad’s memory; he remembers some moments that mean the world. This includes his good times in Hawaii, his love for Crown Royal, and the many friends who have stood by him. And without a second thought, Gab and the family decided to bring a bit of Hawaii to him.

The party was luau-themed and, from the looks of it, full of love and laughter. And, of course, plenty of Cornhuskers jerseys—a nod to Gabrielle’s Nebraska roots. What stood out the most in her post was a tender moment with her dad.

“What dementia has robbed him of, his heart and soul have recovered. When my Dad saw me, he said “I really love you.” And I said “I love you too Dad,”” Gab wrote in the caption to her birthday post for her father. It wasn’t just a birthday party—it was a tribute to the life and memories of a man who, even with dementia, remembers the good times. Gabrielle doesn’t often speak about her father’s condition. So when she does, you can feel how personal it is.

Gabrielle Union’s father’s blessings for her in disguise

In a revealing interview on the Skip Intro podcast with Krista Smith in 2023, Gab shared a deeply personal reflection on what she calls her “daddy issues”. As a successful Hollywood actress, Union has often appeared to have it all together, but she opened up about her struggles with self-confidence and the need for external validation.

During the podcast, Union admitted that despite her fame and success, she still wanted to hear someone tell her she was “cute, attractive, lovely, whatever”. It wasn’t until she spoke with a therapist that the root of her need for validation became clearer—she had unresolved issues with her father. Her therapist pointed out that Union was dealing with ‘daddy issues’, a realization that led her to confront her father directly.

In that conversation, Gab asked him a straightforward yet powerful question–“Why did you never tell me I was pretty?” His response, though unexpected, shifted her perspective. “Pretty doesn’t pay the bills. You’re Black. I’m Black. Your mom’s Black. Your grandparents are Black. We didn’t come from anything.”

For her father, encouraging her to be “pretty” was far less important than preparing her to survive and succeed in a world that wouldn’t hand her anything based on appearance. This raw and honest response opened Union’s eyes to the way her father had been shaping her all along—not through words of affirmation, but by pushing her to excel. And boy, did she prove his expectations right.

It’s clear that Sylvester Union holds monumental importance in his daughter as well as his son-in-law, Dwyane Wade’s life. And the couple desires to cherish all the memories the 80-year-old has left with him of his life.