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Kaye Cowher dies of cancer at 54 (Former Steelers' Coach Bill Cowher's Wife)
ESPN ^ | 7-24-10 | Staff

Posted on 07/24/2010 9:04:55 AM PDT by TitansAFC

Kaye Cowher, the wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, died Friday after battling skin cancer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. She was 54.

Born Kaye Young in Bunn, N.C., she met Bill Cowher at N.C. State in 1976, where he was a football player and she and her twin sister Faye played women's basketball. The couple married in 1981.

Kaye Cowher played a key role in her husband's decision to retire from coaching in 2007 and move full-time to Raleigh, so the family could be together as their daughters completed their high school and college basketball careers.

Meagan, Lauren, and Lindsay Cowher all followed their mothers' footsteps into Division I college basketball. Meagan and Lauren played together at Princeton, while Lindsay currently plays at Wofford.

Kaye Cowher and her sister led N.C. State to the Atlantic Coast Conference's first women's basketball title in 1978. They also appeared in a Wrigley's Doublemint gum commercial.

Kaye Cowher played one season for the New York Stars and two with the New Jersey Gems in the Women's Professional Basketball League until that league folded in 1981.

The family has requested privacy and has released no information on Cowher's death. Services will be held in North Carolina on Monday, according to the report.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: North Carolina; US: Pennsylvania; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: football; nfl; pittsburgh; steelers
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1 posted on 07/24/2010 9:05:02 AM PDT by TitansAFC
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To: TitansAFC

2 posted on 07/24/2010 9:06:31 AM PDT by TitansAFC ("At that point in time (2000 race), McCain was as conservative if not more so than GWB." --- pissant)
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To: TitansAFC

I wonder when Kaye was diagnosed. It was well known that she had pressured Bill to move to NC and this seemed at the time to play a part in his resignation as Steelers coach. This may shed some additional light on that decision to resign. RIP.


3 posted on 07/24/2010 9:09:26 AM PDT by steelyourfaith ("Release the Second Chakra !!!!!!!" ... Al Gore, 10/24/06)
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To: TitansAFC

My condolences to the coach and his family.


4 posted on 07/24/2010 9:10:09 AM PDT by Riptides
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To: Riptides

It probably was melanoma. If detected early melanoma can be stopped. If it is more than 1 millimeter deep it will spread throughout the body. There have been 2 cases amongst my siblings. No deaths so far. I go in for check ups every 6 months. There is nothing healthy about a sun tan.


5 posted on 07/24/2010 9:26:32 AM PDT by forgotten man (forgotten man)
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To: TitansAFC

What a shame. These people were ALWAYS a class act in Pittsburgh and Cowher was a STERLING football coach, 5 or 6 AFC Championship games and 2 Super Bowls, all but ONE without a quarterback!!


6 posted on 07/24/2010 9:33:18 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax
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To: forgotten man

My step-dad passed away from melanoma in Jan. 2000.

In late 1993 or early 1994 when we went to our next door neighbor’s house to swim in his pool, my step-dad took his shirt off and our neighbor made a remark about the big mole on his back.

It eventually started to grow bigger and change color. But my step-dad was real stubborn when it came to going to the doctor. So he didn’t go to the doctor until June of 1996 and by then it was too late.

It actually looked like he was going to beat it at the beginning of 1999, after several experimental treatments at the University of Ann Arbor, but unfortunately it came back with such aggression in Sept./Oct. 1999 that it just couldn’t be overcome.


7 posted on 07/24/2010 9:35:21 AM PDT by library user
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To: forgotten man
It probably was melanoma.

Most common skin "cancers" are easily treated and not life-threatening (remember when President Reagan had a basal cell carcinoma removed from his nose?) In addition to malignant melanoma, the other very rare killer is Merkel Cell carcinoma. I remember several years ago when the great Austrian jazz keyboardist Josef Zawinul died, it was reported as due to "skin cancer". It was Merkel Cell carcinoma that killed him.

8 posted on 07/24/2010 9:43:35 AM PDT by Ozone34 ("There are only two philosophies: Thomism and bullshitism!" -Leon Bloy)
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To: forgotten man

54 is too young. Prayers for the family.

I too have a family member that has had 3 boughts with Melanoma who had to have a 1/4 inch deep growth removed from their back while in their 50’s. They carry a large scar from that particular removal. Thank God it has been caught in time, each time, before having the opportunity to spread. VERY frightening. They go in every 3 months for a full exam by the dermatologist.

They grew up going to the beach every weekend and tanned into their forties.

Needless to say, because of the genetics in our family, my ‘sunning’ days were over long ago. A little sun every week now, a good sun hat and Vitamin D supplements to make up for any shortage. I pray I’ll dodge that bullet in my future.


9 posted on 07/24/2010 9:52:18 AM PDT by 444Flyer
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To: TitansAFC

Prayers for Kaye, Bill and family.


10 posted on 07/24/2010 9:53:02 AM PDT by RedMDer (Throw them all out in 2010... Forward with Confidence! Forward!)
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To: TitansAFC

“They also appeared in a Wrigley’s Doublemint gum commercial.”

That is sweet! I’m sorry to hear of this woman’s death. I like her hubby very much on the football shows.

My goodness, skin cancer is really an overlooked killer of young people. My friend had a cousin who died of this in his 40s.

Such a shame. May she rest in peace.


11 posted on 07/24/2010 10:16:47 AM PDT by jocon307 (It's the spending, stupid.)
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To: TitansAFC

I think cancer has affected all of us, it’s frustrating to see a loved one whither away by a relenting monster you can’t see. My condolences to their family.


12 posted on 07/24/2010 10:43:41 AM PDT by rbosque (11 year Freeper! Combat Economist.)
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To: 444Flyer

Our dermatologist told my husband that he used to diagnose melanoma every once in awhile. He says he now makes that diagnosis nearly every day. My husband had it 10 years ago and it was caught very early. I know exactly what to look for and just found a mole on his back that looked suspicious. The biopsy came back with abnormal cells but it was ok.
My daughter, who is in her 30’s, has 3 friends with melanoma. She goes for a checkup every six months because of her family history.


13 posted on 07/24/2010 11:16:59 AM PDT by surrey
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To: TitansAFC
Another great NC State athlete died yesterday at age 63. Dennis Byrd, twice All-American at State was in the midst of back surgery when he had a massive heart attack.

Dennis played briefly in the NFL but injuries cut his career short. He has been coaching and teaching biology in high school and passionate about fishing and hunting.

He was loved by students and community.

14 posted on 07/24/2010 4:50:50 PM PDT by elpadre (AfganistaMr Obama said the goal was to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda" and its allies.)
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To: RedMDer

Kaye seems to be a wonderful woman ... so few of those left today ...


15 posted on 07/24/2010 6:19:46 PM PDT by Patton@Bastogne
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To: TitansAFC

What a shame...best wishes to the Cohwer family.


16 posted on 07/24/2010 6:37:56 PM PDT by Cuttnhorse ("It is terrible to contemplete how few politicians are hanged." - G.K. Chesterton, 1921)
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To: TitansAFC

RIP.


17 posted on 07/24/2010 7:02:49 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
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To: TitansAFC

That’s a shame. I’ll keep the Coach and his girls in my prayers.


18 posted on 07/24/2010 8:28:22 PM PDT by hometoroost (McCain is a Ron and Nancy Republican: Campaigns like Reagan, governs like Pelosi)
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To: surrey
The diagnosis is happening more and more and in younger people. Too often they aren't looking for the appearance/symptoms and might have a tendency to miss them.:(

P.S.Thank God your Hubby's O.K.!

19 posted on 07/24/2010 8:56:42 PM PDT by 444Flyer
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To: TitansAFC

Sad news.

54 is much too young.


20 posted on 07/25/2010 12:07:30 PM PDT by BenLurkin (Will must be the harder, courage the bolder, spirit must be the more, as our might lessens.)
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