Wife of longtime Yankee Yogi Berra dies at 85

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Carmen Berra, the wife of New York Yankees great Yogi Berra, has died. She was 85.

The Yankees confirmed that she died Thursday night in New Jersey’s Essex County. The team didn’t say how
she died.
The Berras got married in January 1949 and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Yogi
Berra, 88, was a 10-time World Series champion with the Yankees as a
catcher, had two stints as their manager and now is an unofficial team
ambassador, making frequent appearances at games and other events.
"On
behalf of the entire New York Yankees organization, we offer our
deepest condolences to the Berra family," Yankees managing general
partner Hal Steinbrenner said Friday. "Having known Yogi and Carmen for
so long, it is almost impossible to imagine two people who complemented
each other better than they did. We will always remember Carmen’s smile
and sense of humor, and her kindness and generosity will be dearly
missed."
A moment of silence was held before the Yankees’ spring training game Friday night against Detroit.
"Really,
really sad," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Carmen happened to be
the wife of one of the greatest baseball players ever. Probably the
nicest lady you could ever be around. She was a sweetheart. So nice
always to be in her presence. We’re really going to miss her."
Carmen
Berra was often seen at events at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning
Center on the campus of Montclair State University. The museum opened in
the late 1990s and offers children’s educational programs that focus on
sportsmanship and social justice in addition to showcasing memorabilia
from Yogi Berra’s career.
Museum director Dave Kaplan said staffers, board members and volunteers were mourning her death.
"She
was a remarkable woman and consummate companion of Yogi, and both
fervently believed in the core values of the museum and learning
center," Kaplan wrote in an email. "We will miss her terribly."
Besides
her husband, Carmen Berra is survived by three sons including Dale, a
former major league baseball player; 11 grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild.
Her funeral will be private. Donations can be made to the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in
Little Falls.
___
Online:
Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center: http://www.yogiberramuseum.org
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
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