Publishing heiress Patty Hearst's husband Bernard Shaw has passed away at the age of 68.

Shaw died on Wednesday (18Dec13) following a long battle with cancer, surrounded by family members including his wife and his model/actress daughter Lydia.

A family representative tells People magazine, "He went peacefully at home with his wife of 34 years, sister Joan, and daughters Lydia Hearst and Gillian Hearst-Simonds, along with her husband Christian Simonds by his side. He was loved deeply by his family and adored by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting and knowing him. We kindly ask that you respect the privacy of the family during this time."

Shaw famously fell in love with the newspaper heiress after she was released on bail for robbing a bank in 1976.

They met at a restaurant in San Francisco, California on the day after she was freed. Later that year (76), she later spent 22 months in prison and the pair became engaged following her release from jail in 1978.