Virginia McCaskey, matriarch of Chicago Bears, dies at 102

Chicago – Virginia Halas McCaskey, the owner of Chicago Bears and the daughter of the famous founder George S. Halas, died Thursday at. 102.

McCaskey has owned the bears since Papa Bear died in 1983. She has been a constant presence with the team, seen games from the owner’s suite and put the tone of the historic franchise.

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

She sat at the helm of the franchise for more than 41 years, making her one of the most powerful women in sports. She kept a low profile, but was almost always on Bears games.

“She never sought the limelight,” the bears said in a statement. “She understood the importance of emphasizing to family members how important the legacy of the franchise was, not in terms of money or value, but in terms of what the team meant to people in Chicago and beyond.”

McCaskey saw nine Bears World Cups, including Bears only Super Bowl -Se win in the late 1985 season. She stayed 102 on January 5 – the same day the bears beat Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. It was Bear’s first win against their archives since 2018 and McCaskey’s last match.

“She had a passion for the team that matched her father’s, and celebrated every victory with grace as she quietly suffered from any loss. She made it a point to attend every game she could, both at home and away, ”the team said.

McCaskey represented 13 family members of the team’s board of directors who had approx. 80 percent share in the team, As per Sun-Times.

McCaskeys have long promised to keep the team in the family despite the growing animosity of fans about the team’s match on the field.

Halas bought the franchise for $ 100 at a Famout 1920 meeting in Canton, Ohio, which ended in the founding of the American Professional Football Association, according to “a version of the story”, ” The team has said.

Bears is now worth $ 6.4 billion as NFLS 9. Most valuable franchise, According to Forbes.

Born in Chicago in 1923, McCaskey was the oldest of George and my Halas’ two children. Younger brother George “Mugs” Halas Jr. She then went to high school at the former St. Scholastic Academy in Rogers Park.

She had 11 children – eight sons and three daughters – with Ed McCaskey, who died in 2003.

She survived two of her children: Michael, the long-time Bears President, died in 2020. Timothy died in 2011. She is survived by 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

This is a breaking story that will be updated.

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