Terri Irwin gets choked up thinking about the love she and husband Steve Irwin shared before his death in 2006.
“I feel like I’ve had so much [love] and now in my life, I have so much love,” Terri, 60, exclusively told Us Weekly on Friday, May 9, while promoting this year’s Steve Irwin Gala. “I have my wonderful kids. I’m a grandmother now, and I have such a great team around me.”
Terri explained that with her Wildlife Warriors conversation foundation — that was formed in 2002 by Terri and Steve four years before he was fatally stung by a stingray at age 44 — she is bubbling over with love and support working “on all four corners of the earth.”
“We are just everywhere working with like-minded, dedicated people,” Terri continued, reiterating, “My life is very full and very rich and every day, I wish Steve was here, but I’m so lucky.”
Terri, who shares daughter Bindi Irwin and son Robert Irwin with her late spouse, got emotional as she sat beside her kids and spoke of Steve. As Bindi, 26, comforted her mother, Robert, 21, praised her for being so strong after Steve’s passing.
“We love you,” Robert, who is set to compete on season 34 of Dancing With the Stars, told his mom during a joint interview with Us. “I think that’s the thing, it’s a family that we’ve got around the world and so special.”
Robert noted that Steve’s “legacy” is “still here” thanks to everyone who has continued to support their family’s mission to help threatened or endangered wildlife.
“I think I echo everyone, and we’ve got 500 strong in our team, it’s all thanks to mom keeping that legacy going,” Robert gushed. “I couldn’t imagine how hard that would’ve been and is every day, but you’re just our pillar of strength through it all. We really, really have it all to thank you for that. So, thank you.”
Terri — who exclusively told Us last year that she “totally got [her] happily ever after” with Steve — noted that her late husband’s spirit has continued to inspire her personally and professionally.
“I think the best part [of our marriage] was just the fun and the adventure,” Terri said on Friday. “Literally every day I didn’t know what it was going to hold. Steve was probably the most spontaneous person. Everyone says live every day to its fullest, but we never quite do that every day. And Steve really, really did.”
She joked, “I think there really isn’t a word in our language for the opposite of a procrastinator, but that was Steve. He was such a ‘do it now’ guy.”
Terri recalled Steve getting ideas in his head and within an hour they were “off” and usually “gone for weeks with a film crew.”
She beamed as she spoke about Steve, telling Us, “He was just so passionate and so childlike with his enthusiasm for everything he did. And I feel very blessed, and I feel like I’ve taken that away.”
Terri said moving forward she wants to “do more of that in my life and make sure my kids have the same opportunities as well, as well as little grace.”
Part of living like Steve includes honoring his legacy as Robert said with the family’s annual Steve Irwin Gala, which took place this year on Saturday, May 10, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
“The gala dinner is so special because I know Steve used to say to me, ‘When it’s my time, I don’t care if anyone remembers me. I just hope they remember my message,’” Terri said, noting that the annual event promotes his message in spades.
She recalled feeling a “sense of responsibility to make sure his mission and his message continued” and luckily it has been a success for years.
“The gala dinner is the best way to bring people together from all over the world to help raise funds and awareness for wildlife. And it’s really important too,” Terri explained. “We are together as a family and we get to celebrate my husband, their dad, and that’s really special too.”
She teased that Steve would be “amazed” by how far they’ve come with the event. “We’re not in the outback anymore,” Robert pointed out.
Terri agreed, adding, “It’s the boy from the bush living in a tent, and we’re at the Bellagio in the lap of luxury. It’s really wild.”
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