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Wife of former OSU star loses battle with cancer

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11:28 PM Thursday, November 19, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Stefanie Spielman, the wife of former NFL and Ohio State star Chris Spielman, who led a public fight against breast cancer, died Thursday, Nov. 19, after a lengthy battle with the disease. She was 42.

Stefanie Spielman died at the family’s home in Upper Arlington, surrounded by her family, said WBNS radio in Columbus, where Chris Spielman co-hosts a show.

“Stefanie has gone home to be with the Lord,” Chris Spielman said in a statement released by the station. “For that, we celebrate, but with broken hearts.”

Stefanie Spielman was 30 years old and three months pregnant in 1998 when she detected a lump in her breast. She later miscarried and discovered she had cancer. She survived four bouts with the disease before a fifth recurrence.

“On behalf of the entire Buckeye football family, we send our love, thoughts and prayers to the Spielman family,” OSU football coach Jim Tressel said. “Stefanie has inspired the entire Buckeye nation ... with her courage and strength. We will miss her and will always remember the lessons we learned from her. She will always be a special Buckeye.”

The Spielmans raised more than $6 million for breast cancer research at Ohio State through the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

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