The Patriots are in mourning Tuesday after learning that Don Brocher, the team’s equipment manager and longest tenured employee in franchise history, lost his season-long battle against leukemia late Monday night. The 2012 season was his 41stwith the Patriots. On Nov. 23, he celebrated his 60thbirthday.

“The Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization awoke with very heavy hearts this morning,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “That is when most of us learned of Don’s passing. He had fought this deadly disease so valiantly all season long. We were all optimistic that he would defeat it and fully recover. He was back on our sidelines just two weeks ago for our game against the 49ers and I can’t remember ever seeing him happier. I am glad I had that opportunity to thank him once again for his loyalty and countless contributions to the team. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Laurie, and all who knew Don and are mourning his loss today.”

Brocher began working for the Patriots as a ball boy on the equipment manager’s staff in 1972 and was hired full-time as an assistant that season. He remained a member of the team’s equipment staff since then and was promoted from assistant to equipment manager in February of 1994, shortly after Robert Kraft purchased the team. He was entering his 19thseason as equipment manager and his 41stseason overall with the Patriots when he was diagnosed with leukemia in June of 2012.