Virginia Halas McCaskey, Bears and Matriarch, dies at 102

Lake Forest, Ill.-Virginia Halas McCaskey, who inherited Chicago Bears from his father, George Halas, but avoided the limelight during four-Plus decades as the main owner, has died. She was 102.

McCaskey’s family announced through the team that she died on Thursday. She had owned the bears since her father’s death on October 31, 1983.

“While we are sad, we are comforted by knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faithful life and is now with love for his life on earth,” the family said. “She led the bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans.”

Like her father, a co -founder of the NFL, the McCaskey held the team in family hands. She gave operational control and the title president of her eldest son, Michael McCaskey, who served as chairman until he was followed by brother George McCaskey in 2011.

During her management, the bears won a Super Bowl in 1986 and lost another 21 years later.

McCaskey, the elder of Halas’ two children, never expected to find himself responsible. Her brother, George “Mugs” Halas Jr., was cared for to take over the team, but died suddenly of a heart attack in 1979.

McCaskey took over ownership of her father’s death in 1983, and her late husband, Ed McCaskey, succeeded Halas as chairman. Not long after, she turned control to Michael, the oldest of her 11 children.

“I think it’s important that our entire family remembers that we really didn’t do anything to earn this,” McCaskey said in a rare interview in 2006. “We are just the recipients of a huge heritage. I use the word ‘ Custodian, ‘and we will pass it on in the best way we can.

McCaskey’s official title was the secretary of the board. Despite her general hands-off approach and low public profile, she occasionally exercised the ultimate authority in team decisions as a matriarch for the family.

One of the 1987 lawsuit involved by the children of “mugs” Halas, which was resolved by a stock purchase of their shares. A recent reminder came in December 2014 when George McCaskey announced firing by coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery at a news conference and was asked to describe his mother’s role in the process.

He paused, struggled to describe her misfortune with the just finished 5-11 season, and the team’s generally fading fortunes.

“She’s damned,” George McCaskey said. “I can’t think of a 91-year-old woman that description would apply, but in this case I can’t think of a more accurate description.

“Virginia McCaskey has been on this earth in eight of Bears’ nine championships and she wants more,” he added a moment later. “She feels it’s long ago the last (Super Bowl victory) and that dissatisfaction is shared by her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She is tired of mediocrity. She feels she and wears fans everywhere deserves better “

Virginia McCaskey came honestly of her fandom. According to family members, she would often not serve dessert on Sundays when the bears lost. In the same interview from 2006, she remembered that she participated in the first playoffs in the league story when she was 9.

Bears and Portsmouth Spartans ended the 1932 season in the first draw to first place, so the league added a game to decide a master. Due to Snow, the game was moved indoors to the old Chicago Stadium, the bears won 9-0, playing on an 80-yard field that came straight to the walls.

“I remember not hiding my ticket stub, but one of my cousins ​​had saved his,” McCaskey said. “We sat on the other balcony and the fare was $ 1.25.

“I brought it to one of the Super Bowls to show (formerly commissioner) Pete Rozelle, and then I don’t know what happened to it afterwards,” she added. “But that’s ok.”

Her tenure as Bears’ owner included the creation of the Bears Care program in 2005. Bears said Bears Care has issued a total of more than $ 31.5 million to 225 qualifying agencies to improve the quality of life for people in Chicago – the area, especially unmet children and their families. Bears Care also supported health awareness programs focusing on breast and ovarian cancer.

McCaskey had 11 children, eight sons and three daughters. She is survived by her sons Patrick (Gretchen), Edward Jr. (Kathy), George (Barbara), Richard, Brian (Barbara) and Joseph and Daughters Ellen (Barney) Tonquest, Mary and Anne (Mike) Catron. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 40 great -grandchildren and four great -grandchildren.