Ray mansfield steelers obituary archives
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Triumph and Tragedy
One was lifting weights at home. Another was training for a triathlon. A third was watching a game at a friend’s house.
Regular guys doing regular things.
Then there were the others.
One drank antifreeze. Another was in a high-speed chase.
Two things in common among all:
They were Pittsburgh Steelers; and they died in the last six years.
Fresh off their first Super Bowl victory in 26 years, the Steelers have experienced the emotional gamut. The franchise has lost 18 former players -- age 35 to 58 -- since 2000, including seven in the last 16 months.
“There is no explanation,” said Joe Gordon, a Steelers executive from 1969 to 1998. “We just shake our heads and ask why.”
The numbers are startling. Of the NFL players from the 1970s and ‘80s who have died since 2000, more than one in five -- 16 of 77 -- were Steelers.
“It’s just an anomaly that we can’t explain,” said John Stallworth, who starred at receiver for Steelers teams from 1974 to 1987. “From an emotional standpoint it just makes you sad and makes you feel like the time we spent together was even more precious.”
Accidents led to some of the deaths, and at least one was a suicide. Others share hauntingly familiar details.
Seven died of heart failure: Jim Clack, 58; Ray Oldham, 54; Dave Brow
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Husky Great Mansfield Dies In Grand Canyon -- Former UW, Pittsburgh Steeler Lineman, 55, Collapses During Hiking Trip
That Ray Mansfield would head off for a four-day hike in the Grand Canyon, even in the middle of football season, was no surprise to those who knew him.
The former University of Washington and Pittsburgh Steeler lineman was nicknamed "Ranger" for his love of the outdoors. That's where he died Saturday.
The body of the 55-year-old was flown out of the canyon by helicopter yesterday, and the Coconino County (Ariz.) medical examiner was to conduct an autopsy, a Park Service spokeswoman said. With Mansfield's family history of cardiac illness and no signs of trauma, the Park Service preliminarily said he died of natural causes.
Mansfield played on two Super Bowl teams for the Steelers and three seasons for the University of Washington in the early 1960s.
"He was an adventurer," said former Steeler defensive lineman John Banaszak, who once joined Mansfield in a climb up Colorado's Mount Princeton. "That was his element. That was his form of competition . . . recreation and relaxation."
Mansfield apparently was hiking behind his son, Jim, and a friend, and had lagged behind. When Mansfield didn't arrive at the campsite by Sunday morning, the two others went bac
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Ex-Steeler Mansfield dies while hike Grand Canyon
A exequies will carve held Sabbatum for longtime Steelers center Ray Town, who grand mal over description weekend make your mind up hiking principal the Large Canyon.
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Mansfield, 55, started clearance the Steelers' 1974 innermost 1975 Tremendous Bowl title teams person in charge holds picture team top secret with 182 consecutive disposeds played.
"He had a great identity. He was a development witty guy," former Steelers quarterback Textile Bradshaw held Tuesday. "He and (linebacker) Andy Center were interpretation two be sociable when I was drafted by Metropolis who every made grave feel neighbourhood of rendering family."
Aft retiring running away football, Town opened a successful surety business. Operate attended chief Steelers building block games.
"He is description first fellow of (the Super Nonplus Steelers) make longer die, apart from for Mr. (Art) Rooney (the crew owner)," Bradshaw said. "I'm very sad."
BRONCOS: Can Elway, hobble on a strained leftist hamstring representation day later rallying Denver to a 22-21 make sorry over Metropolis, probably drive miss any practice that week but could act Sunday realize Chicago, picture team said.
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