health
February 27, 2026
What did Willie Colón die from? The disease that marked his last years
Willie Colón passed away on February 21 due to a respiratory illness. While details were not revealed at the time, it was later reported that the definitive cause of his death was ILD, which stands for Interstitial Lung Disease.
TL;DR
- Willie Colón died on February 21 due to respiratory issues.
- The official cause of death was Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), also known as Enfermedad Pulmonar Intersticial (EPI).
- ILD is a group of over 200 lung disorders that affect the lung's interstitial tissue.
- Symptoms include inflammation, scarring, and difficulty with oxygen transfer, potentially leading to rigid lungs.
- The family requests donations to Columbia University's ILD program for research in lieu of flowers.