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"Rest in Peace Mrs. Mara. My prayers also for The Mara family. What a great woman!!!!" wrote current Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck,Cheap Jerseys From China, a member of the 2008 and 2012 Giants Super Bowl champions.
Ann Mara was a prominent philanthropist who supported educational organizations. Mara also helped children with cancer through the Ronald McDonald House of New York. In November, she dedicated the opening of a new building for the San Miguel Academy for children at risk, which was built through the NFL Snowflake Foundation.
She used to like to remind John Mara that "you're an employee.'"
Three days before MetLife Stadium — the home of the Giants and Jets — was the site of the Super Bowl last year, Ann Mara received the Paul J. Tagliabue Award of Excellence. It is presented to a league or team executive who demonstrates the integrity and leadership that he exhibited in career development opportunities for minority candidates and advocacy for diversity on the league and club level when he was NFL commissioner.
Giants co-owner John Mara announced his mother's death on Super Bowl Sunday. Ann Mara slipped in front of her home in Rye, New York, during an ice storm two weeks ago and was hospitalized with a head injury the following day. While there were initial hopes for recovery, John Mara said,Cheap Soccer Jerseys, complications developed and she died early Sunday surrounded by her family.
Married to Wellington Mara in 1954 after a chance meeting in a Roman Catholic church, Ann Mara attended almost every Giants home and away game. She was a fierce defender of the team.
"I absolutely love this woman! She had a smile that would brighten anyone's day. She was our fighter & backbone," Rolle tweeted.
Giants safety Antrel Rolle called Ann Mara an angel and a blessing in his five years with the team.
"She is not very happy with me right now, believe me," John Mara said. "She suffers through this probably even more so than I do. I am on notice as well."
Bradshaw turned toward the camera and said, "I know. I know. I'm sorry. I'm getting hammered for not picking the Giants."
"You never pick the Giants," Ann Mara said.
"She has been the leader of our family in every way, and we will miss her dearly," John Mara said.
Born Ann Mumm in New York City on June 18,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, 1929, Mara is survived by 11 children,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, 43 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. One of her grandchildren, Chris' daughter Rooney Mara, was nominated for an Oscar for best actress for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" in 2012.
Current and former Giants players reacted to the death on social media.
Ann Mara and her children owned 50 percent of the Giants, one of the founding families of the league, since the death of her husband, Hall of Famer Wellington Mara, in 2005. While she was not active in daily operations, her opinion was valued greatly.
After the Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 NFC Championship game en route to their fourth Super Bowl title, she approached Fox broadcaster and Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, poking his arm to get his attention.
"Mrs. Mara was a tower of strength, dignity and inspiration for her family and all of us in the NFL,Cheap NFL Football Jerseys," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Her family and the Giants organization have always reflected Mrs. Mara's competitive spirit, integrity, and wonderful sense of humor. Our thoughts and prayers are with John Mara and the entire Mara family."
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Ann Mara, the matriarch of the NFL's New York Giants for the past 60 years, has died. She was 85.
Ann Mara, sometimes referred to as "The First Lady of Football," also let her sons know how she felt. Three of them work in the Giants' front office. Along with John, Chris is the senior vice president of player evaluation and Frank is the vice president of community relations.
Funeral plans are pending.
When the Giants missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year this past season, John Mara, who serves as president and chief executive,NFL Jerseys China, was asked how his mother felt. |
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