I don't know why we as human being need to feel inadequate just because someone said we were. I, quite frankly don't know what he's feeling, but if he's crawling around in a deep depression in his life, he needs to seek help, otherwise, he should just forget about her, carry on with his life, and remain happy.
He remarried and his wife took on the motherly duties. All worked out he claimed new wife was/is awesome.