Last night news across Ohio even the world announced the passing of Stefanie Spielman. Stefanie Spielman was the wife of Ohio State’s all-time great linebacker and Lombardi award winner Chris Spielman. Stefanie was a lady full of courage and strength. Stefanie has been fighting breast cancer for the past decade and has had 5 different lapses with it before it ultimately took her life. Chris and Stefanie were public figures in the Columbus area for their work with Ohio State University's Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. They also made Race for the Cure a big event in Columbus many people wear pink wigs in support of Stefanie’s fight. Stefanie even started the Stefanie Spielman fund for breast cancer research. Stefanie was not only fighting the battle of her own cancer but also helping to fight the battle for all the other women with breast cancer. Chris and Stefanie have been married for many years and were high school sweethearts. They have 4 children Madison, Noah, Macy and Audrey.
Chris had a great football career. He was top linebacker of his time and was drafted to play football in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, then traded to the Buffalo Bills and a quick stint with the Cleveland Browns. Chris ended up putting his career on hold during the 1998 season to take care of his wife and his family. After returning to football in 1999, it ended quickly with a neck injury. Chris has done a great job with holding everything together and supporting his wife. This love and commitment is what many fans would love to see more professional athletes possess.
Overall Stefanie’s fight was a public fight gaining support from all of Columbus. This news was really sad for me and for many in the Columbus area. These two were the leaders for the fight for breast cancer. Their initial goal with this fund was to raise about a quarter of a million dollars and before Stefanie’s passing they raised more than $6.5 million. I wish Chris and his family the deepest respects and hope that they continue to raise money for The Stefanie Spielman Fund. She was truly a great leader and had a great compassion and love for people. She will be truly missed.
This is a picture of the Spielman family during Chris Spielman's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Megan- This is a very sad situation and hits close to home with it being in Columbus. I think that stories like The Spielman's tell a bigger story about sports. Sports are not just about the actually playing of the game, it's deeper than that. As we learned in class, it brings groups of people together and creates stronger communities. You can see that play out through all the support for the cancer research they raised and the success of the race the created. And I agree with you that stories of love and support for the families are much better to read about then all the bad choices that are ruining athlete’s careers.
ReplyDeleteAs a result of your entry, I looked up some of the coverage about the passing of Stefanie Spielman and read that she and Chris were high school sweethearts, as you noted. I noticed that when he wanted to skip the 1998 season, she encouraged him to play as a way to bring attention to breast cancer. That is a great example of a professional athlete using his platform in a way that effects positive change. Thanks for sharing this tribute.
ReplyDeleteMegan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this remarkable story about true love. It is a very sad situation but this story is an example of an athlete who would do anything for his other half. Athlete’s personal lives are always reported in the news but usually it’s always how someone has screwed up or done something bad. This is a remarkable story because it reminds us that athletes are normal and deal with real problems just like everyone else.
RIP Stefanie.