Stefanie Spielman, who took her battle with breast cancer public with the help of her husband Chris Spielman, died today at the age of 42.
Stefanie was 30 when she learned she had cancer, and she told Chris she wanted to use his fame as a Pro Bowl linebacker to educate people about the disease.
"Tell them I have breast cancer," she recalled telling her husband, per the Columbus Dispatch. "It may make one guy go home and say: 'Honey, my favorite football player's wife has breast cancer. You got to remember to make that mammogram appointment.' "
Chris played from 1988 to 1995 for the Detroit Lions and 1996 and 1997 with the Buffalo Bills. He sat out the 1998 season to help Stefanie and their children cope with her illness, then returned in 1999 with the Cleveland Browns. He retired before the 1999 regular season after suffering a neck injury.
Stefanie battled cancer throughout her 30s, and found out in March of this year that it had come back for a fifth time. She said her attitude throughout her fight with cancer was, "I cannot let this get the best of me, and I will not let this ruin the rest of my life no matter how long it is."
Stefanie is survived by Chris and their four children: 15-year-old Madison, 13-year-old Noah, 8-year-old Macy, and 7-year-old Audrey. She is also survived by her mother and three sisters.
In 1998 Stefanie started the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.
[Editor's note: I arrived home roughly an hour ago after picking up my son at basketball practice, ate dinner with my family, and then pulled up the site to see the latest news. My head dropped, my heart sank, and my stomach churned when I saw the news regarding Stefanie Spielman. Chris and his brother, Rick, are two of the very finest men associated with the sport of football, and my deepest condolences and prayers extend tonight to Chris, Rick, and their families.]
Stefanie Spielman dies at 42
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 19, 2009 7:46 PM ET
She put up one heck of a fight. 5 times is more than imaginable. Everybody's hearts should go out to Chris and his family. RIP
I cant believe it, I will never forget the speech he made when he left football with Buffalo to take care of his wife - It was the only thing that could take him off the field - He was facing a neck injury that could have paralyzed him, but that didnt bother him.
Maybe some information on how one could donate to the Stefanie Spielman Fund? Not a bad time to promote her biggest cause.
This sucks. No other way to say it.
Very sad. Glad to see she fought to 32. My prayers are with their family and hopefully this will bring even more awareness to breast cancer.
Forty two is simply too young. Sounds like a brave woman.
My deepest prayers and sympathies go out to Chris and their children.
What a terrible tragedy. Way too young! May God speed a cure, and a swift and full recovery to all the brave women fighting this awful disease!! My prayers th o the entire Spielman family!!! R.I.P. Stefanie!!!!
Condolences to the Spielman family. Northeast Ohio is behind you, Chris!
RIP Stefanie. My condolences to the family.
Thoughts and prayers...
May God comfort Chris and his family.
The hearts of eveyone who loves the game goes out to the Spielman family. It seems bitterly ironic that this news comes on the heels of this week's confusion over the value of breast cancer screening. I hope our health officials can quickly issue specific guidelines and clear this up.
A true warrior. God rest her soul.
RIP. So sad to go so young.
This is horrible news. I was hoping she'd beat this. Stefanie and Chris Spielman are two of the toughest people who have ever walked the earth. People talk about how tough Chris was on the football field, well let me tell ya, he would be the first to say that Stefanie had him beat. On behalf of OSU grads everywhere, our thoughts and prayers are with the Spielman family.
Simply a tragedy. RIP.
Thats a very sad thing. I do remember when he left the Bills to care of his wife and family. He was a class act when he was with the Bills. I wish him and his family the best
RIP Stefanie
Buckeye Nation has the Spielmans in our thoughts and prayers.
But, but, the latest government pronouncement is that mamograms for women under 50 are costly and unecessary.
Stefanie Spielman inspired more people than she ever knew. Her courage was humbling. And Chris's decision to take time away from the game to be with her always made me think of him as a giant among men. May God grant her peace and rest after her long battle and may He comfort her family.
There are no right words at a time like this. My prayers are also with the whole family.
And the new government guidlines don't start checking until a woman is 50? Brilliant. Let this also make out of touch politicians a bit more aware of the real world.
Sad.
Football becomes secondary on a day like today. God's peace and serenity to the Speilman family and may they continue there journey of there own lives to one day be with Stefanie!!
I hardly ever post here but I had to say something about this... Chris was a tremendous ball player and Stefanie was a tremendous human being for using her status to bring awareness to the number One killer in our Country (people under 80) My little sister died of cancer at 20 and everyday I pray for a cure to this horrible disease... my heart goes out to her family and most importantly her 3 kids
Sad news. She fought longer than many do.
Sad news. She fought longer than many do.
It's an insidious disease.
And it continues to pick the most courageous to burden and attack.
Thank you, Stephanie for your courage and crusade.
Some day.....
that's too bad. I always enjoyed watching Spielman, seemed like a good guy.
Sad day for everyone. My sympathies with the Spielman family and friends.
I'm sorry Spielman family. You lost a brave woman.
After reading this, I remember some of the stupid idiots that made fun of the NFL and the players that wore pink cleats, gloves, etc. How dare they!!!!!
RIP Stephanie, you made a difference!
yes it is sad.
the more i read about cancers and things like that
but... the new proclamation about delaying mammograms comes after the usual pandering that only the younger/youngest should get access to such care. like mammograms and flu vaccines...
which is stupid because basically... she was probably genetically disposed to get what she got. as a result, the longer she would have waited to be tested for whatever reason means she would have died a long time ago if she had been under "rationed care".
we all have more than enough "health care management". we dont need any more people making decisions for us or getting between us and the health care providers of our choice.
Very very sad.
When I was about 15 or 16 years old, my favorite player for the Buffalo Bills was Bruce Smith. For Christmas, my brother got a Bruce Smith jersey and I got a Chris Spielman jersey. I was disappointed, because I wasn't as avid a fan as I am now, and I had never heard of Chris Spielman. Adding to my disappointment was that Spielman never again played in a Bills jersey after that.
I just put on his jersey, and I am wearing it with pride. Kudos to him for knowing what was important, and taking time away from the game to be with his family. Condolences to him and his family.
God rest to this woman, she put up a great fight. I remember when Chris Spielman quit football for a year to be with his wife, he sacrificed alot of money and a career for her ... I thought that was very admirable and an amazing thing in this day's world of greedy athletes.
Having said that, like a previous poster wrote, this is so ironic this comes during the week the Barack Islama administration issued advice that women should not have mammo's til 50 and then only every other year thereafter.
What a stooooopid a clueless analyzation of things ... it's a great example of what government health care would be like - trying to save money at the expense of a few deaths that don't matter to them.
How could any administration be sooooo clueless and stoooooopid soooooooooo much during its first year of being in power? What have they accomplished? NOTHING. Wake up people, it's a power grab by a bunch of socialists in the White House who are hosting amateur hour in the White House for four looooong years.
God speed to Stefanie Spielman - I just hope others in the future get the chance to battle this terrible cancer like she did without being told she shouldn't or can't have a test or being told it's not worth it or can't afford it by some government panel or czar.
wake up people! they're stealing our country from us!
Goddamn beast of a disease. A true Warrior - not a football player smashing heads week by week. This is a Warrior. Sometimes it is so easy to see how women can be 100 times the fighter of a mere mortal man. My prayers.
They routinely do not give m-grams to younger women, and I doubt insurance pays for it as a "routine" thing.
I hit the submit before I was ready.
Very sad. Condolences to and prayers for the family.
Do you think some of you can refrain from political commentary on a post about a young woman's death? It's called simple manners. Learn them. Use them. Become an adult.
Tears.
Good man, Great woman. Very sad.
Clearly the Democrat's plan is to kill people.
It's so obvious.
They want the destruction of America.
Death to Mothers!! they chant at their socialist rallies.
I mean, it's crazy these people just don't care about people. They are inhuman killing machines that coldly calculate how to steal America from the great patriots and matriarchs of our glorious country.
Healthcare Companies are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
Without healthcare companies how would you get so good at arguing with people!! Seriously, people, don't you love your healthcare company!!!
When you get sick, they never mess with you. They're so great!! No hassles whatsoever!!
And all those people going bankrupt because they can't afford healthcare, f*ck'em. They're all immigrant foreign scum. Not a single one of them is a decent person who deserves any sympathy.
This is my country, and I chose who lives and dies!!!!!
Oh those insidious Democracts trying to kill people and steal America!! How dastardly they are trying to dismantle America!!
Who do they think they are trying to kill people? Its crazy.
They are just like Stalin. I've already heard Obama is building secret gulags in rural Montana is going to start killing mothers and shipping free-thinking America loving salt of the earth people just because they disagree!!
I am NOT fear monger!!! How could I be?
It is a fact that this women would not have died if if Obama hadn't implemented his healthcare program. Oh wait, he hasn't? Well it's still his fault. OBVIOUSLY!!
Healthcare companies are so great!! They really care about all there people!! They never deny coverage to people!!
And they're so affordable!! Yippee!
Goddamn Democrats trying to kill our mothers!! I'm NOT fear monger. Promise!
@slipkid and aikman8 ...
The new recommendations about mammograms have been in the works for some time and are the product of research organizations and breast cancer advocacy groups, not political parties.
slipkid, these are not recommendations that only younger women should get mammograms. They are recommendations that women should be OLDER before getting mammograms. That's because mammograms frequently fail to pick up cancerous tumors in younger women due to differences in breast density as women age. It's believed that when younger women have mammograms, they are getting potentially harmful radiation without getting the benefit of an effective screening. Because of her long cancer history, I guarantee Stefanie Spielman was routinely tested for recurrences, probably using tests--such as MRIs and PET scans--that are much more effective than mammograms.
Breast cancer has taken a big toll on my family and I follow these issues closely. I have a lot of mixed feelings about the new guidelines and am violently opposed to some of them. But I can assure you these changes have nothing to do with the Obama healthcare plan. This has been an ongoing battle within the breast cancer/medical community for the last few years. And though I know you meant well, the focus of Stefanie Spielman's tragic death should not be shifted to party politics.
This is very sad news. My heart goes out to the Spielman family. She was a warrior...way too young. Please keep Chris, the Spielman children, their family and friends in your prayers. It's a long, hard road ahead for all of them.
Amongst the expressions of heartfelt condolence from caring people those of you using this to push your politics are despicable.
My condolences to the Spielman family. I'm speechless she is so young and so brave A true fighter in every sense of the word.
I've been reading PFT for a few years and have never posted until now. My dad died of cancer almost 12 years ago at the young age of 51 and it doesn't seem they are any closer to a cure. A cure needs to be found. My sympathies to the Spielman family.
My screen name says it all... Chris Spielman was my favorite Lion and my favorite NFL player, ever...
RIP Stefanie...
Even as a Michigan alum, Spielman was always one of my heroes. Rest in peace, Stefanie.
Makes me want to go and hold my wife and tell her how much I love her. Terribly sad day.
thebootguy,
I hate to be "that guy" on here who isn't all about their condolences to the family on this thread, but how is God going to "speed a cure" to anyone? It's up to humans to find a cure, not a super being that may or not exist on depending on your individual beliefs. Nonetheless, God has no physical presence on this earth and in no way would ever "speed a cure" to humans for anything that he (or she) allowed to happen in the first place.
That being said, my condolences go out to the family and friends of the Spielmans.
Thoughts and prayers to the family... It's a sad day for all. God bless.
@ Abe Froeman, wrong place at the wrong time man! Not cool at all.
Too short of a life, too young to die. I remember Spielman talking about it when he was a player. It was horribly sad to see him talk about it then, and even worse to hear about this now. It's a horrible disease for anybody to have to deal with in their families. Unfortunately, it will affect most of our lives, either directly or indirectly.
All my sympathies to the Spielman family and their friends. Goodbye to a true warrior, RIP Stefanie Spielman.
And, to those that are making this a political thread, this is not the place at all. Nobody has a stronger opinion of what's going on right now politically than I do, but out of respect for Stefanie Spielman and her family, leave it out of this thread. Go find a political forum.
May the Lord rest your soul Stephanie.
Terrible story. I love Spielman on college football. R.I.P. Stefanie.
I remember Chris Spielman played a whole season with a torn pectoral muscle and didn't miss a game. Most players would be done for the year, but he played through the pain basically with one arm and still had an amazing season.
Stefanie was the same type of warrior and even though she has passed I hope every member of her family can hold their head high knowing she she fought not only her sickness, but the entire disease. While her passing is a sad and terrible thing, her effort probably helped hundreds or even thousands of families avoid moments like this.
Best wishes to all of the Spielman family and their friends.
Actually Cubano, as man whose mother suffered through a long and horrible battle with breast cancer, culminating in surgery, I feel it was an incredibly appropriate time to address the comments in the manner in which I did. Thankfully my mother survived.
Nevertheless when I see people who opine comments that are off base and potentially damaging to other women I feel compelled to show them the their illogical ways. I'm sorry you disagreed about my time and place, and recognize why you would feel that way. But I didn't see you condemning the two people who originally brought politics into this. I stand by my rebuke of this people.
My condolences to the Speilman family.
R.I.P Stefanie...my mom is a 18 year survivor of breast cancer and is the reason why I donate the time and effort to bring awareness to this disease...and I can only hope and pray that one day there will be a cure for this and all forms of cancer that in some way or another has affected so many of us
I'm sorry to learn of her passing. Condolensces to the Spielman family.
Clearly, they have lost someone special.
Yes, there are things more inportant than football. All the best to her family.
Remember his retirement speech still, guy gave the Bears hell for a long time.
Maybe some information on how one could donate to the Stefanie Spielman Fund? Not a bad time to promote her biggest cause.
Stefanie Spielman Fund
I am pleased that for the most part, folks have kept this thread on the right path. Not a time for politcal points of view, simply a time to pay respects to the woman, to her husband who played the game we all love, and to her family.
Abe, thanks for getting us back on track, and kudos to everyone for their posts, and more importantly, thanks to those for not posting otherwise ..... there is a good chance that the family may just see this.
I'm very proud of the PFT family for being so sensitive to such a terrible loss.
Today, we are all Chris Spielman fans.
Vaya con dios, Mrs. Spielman. God bless you and your family.
So sad, prayers to the Spielman family. She was a fighter for a very long time and beautiful to the very end, those cheekbones were to die for. Her husband is a class act as is his brother Rick as well who is also all about family. RIP Stefanie.
Suddenly football seems very small. Thoughts and prayer to Chris Spielman and his family.
My prayers to the family and especially those four young children now without a mother.
Bill in DC is the dumbest person I have ever heard on this website. Florio remove him!
5 times? that is a warrior through and through...
thoughts and sympathies...
also, this is absolutely not the place for any posters' political bullshit...there are plenty of other places to post your righteous indignation. all of you that do nothing but tow the party line, especially in a post like this, are the scum of the earth.
God bless, she will be missed.
It breaks my heart.
Thoughts and prayers to the Spielman families.
RIP Stefanie.
My heart sank when I heard this news this morning. Chris Spielman was always one of my favorite players. So sorry to hear of this loss.
Thoughts go out to Chris, can't imagine raising 4 young childeren on my own.
I hope you have the support around you to do so.
To the future posters, please regrain from bringing any propaganda or beliefs on religion to this thread. It's dissrespectful, plain and simple.
Listen to Chris on the radio here in Columbus nearly every day. What a tragedy. He's a great guy and she was a great woman.
my heart goes out to that family....i feel the worst for the kids, she was still so young
Such sad news. You fought hard for so long and now its time to rest. My heart goes out to the Spielman's.
I remember when Chris Spielman shaved his head while taking a year off from football while his wife was undergoing treatment. Their children were young at the time and he didn't want to convey a sense that mom was "different" to their children.
Sometimes things just aren't fair.
very sad news.. she was a very brave woman and I pray for the Family
Tragic news and even more personally upsetting than normal since we just found out on Wednesday that my wife has breast cancer...Stephaine Spielman will be admired on a much more personal level now.....
Godspeed
I truly hope this news brings awareness that absolutely women get breast cancer in their 30's and 40's. What the government announced about mannagrams was insane. This is sad news, but her fight was not just to survive, but to bring awareness for the disease. Hopefully her passing will save lives, as she wanted.
Having lived in Central Ohio most of my life. I can attest to the high moral character of Stefani and Chris Spielman. My heart goes out to Chris and his family in the light of this tragic loss. May God bless you and give you peace.
God bless the Spielmans.
Fballguy
Very sad to hear this. All the best to both families during these very difficult times...
My thoughts & prayers are with the Spielman family. God Bless.
My condolences to the Spielman's especially the four young children.
Hang in there and do your mother proud...
Chris, I am very sorry for your loss.
God bless.
http://www.jamesline.com/waystogive/funds/spielman/fund_at_work/Pages/index.aspx
Here is information on how to donate to the Stefanie Spielman fund for breast cancer research. This fund helps the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center- James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute research cures and also assists patients in need.
Rest in Peace, Stefanie... you have done your part. Now we will do ours.