Colleen Joffa Howe, wife of hockey great, Gordie Howe, entered eternal life at her home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, on Friday, March 6, 2009. "Mrs. Hockey" was 76 years old. She was 70 years old when stricken with Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia similar to Alzheimer's, which alters personality and character and whose progression cannot be slowed.
Colleen Joffa was born on February 17, 1933 and spent part of her childhood in Sandusky, Michigan, where an ice arena bearing her name was dedicated in 2000. After her parents' divorce, she moved with her mother and stepfather to Detroit, where she completed high school. She was working as a secretary at Bethlehem Steel when she first met Gordie Howe at the Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes on Grand River Avenue in Detroit in 1950. They were married on April 15, 1953. They raised four children: future hockey players Marty and Mark, physician son Murray, and daughter, Cathy, who later worked for the family's business.
Colleen Howe founded the Detroit Junior Red Wings and created the charitable organization, the Howe Foundation. She ran for U.S. Congress, as a Republican candidate, while living in Connecticut.
She was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, and was honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
Gordie and Colleen Howe Middle School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, is named after the couple,
A portion of the press release from the Detroit Red Wings:
"Colleen was an outstanding businesswoman having developed a number of business interests during Gordie's playing career. She was president of Power Play International and Power Play Publications, was an Amway distributor, sold insurance, and once ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican candidate in Connecticut.
"She also organized the family's philanthropic efforts, including the Howe Foundation, which generated funds for children of all ages in need. Her mission was to improve the quality of life through developing programs for children in physical or psychological crisis, and the foundation has continued to grow through the years by raising thousands in funds.
"Colleen Howe was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. She was also honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
"In the Red Wings' book as a tribute to Gordie Howe that was published in Oct. 2007, Mr. Hockey wrote a very touching dedication to the woman that he loved from the time he saw her bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes down the street from Olympia Stadium on Grand River Ave. in 1951. The couple was married on April 15, 1953.
"Gordie wrote, 'I dedicate this book to my lovely bride Colleen. While I received the applause, you stood behind me and cheered the loudest. While I focused on improving my game, you made sure the bills were getting paid. While I was on the overnight trains and planes from city to city, you were tucking in the kids and teaching them to pray for their daddy. You have been my biggest fan, my agent, my dietician, my counselor... And even now as you battle for your life, you are my inspiration, my strength, and the love of my life.
"Colleen is survived by her husband Gordie; sons Marty, Mark and Murray, and daughter Cathy; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild."
Colleen Howe was co-author of the books "After the Applause," "My Three Hockey Players" and a self-published autobiography, "and ... HOWE!"
Colleen was an award-winning video producer, sold life insurance, ran for the U.S. House in Connecticut, and owned cattle and llamas, a travel agency, and had an Amway distributorship.
Colleen Joffa was born on February 17, 1933 and spent part of her childhood in Sandusky, Michigan, where an ice arena bearing her name was dedicated in 2000. After her parents' divorce, she moved with her mother and stepfather to Detroit, where she completed high school. She was working as a secretary at Bethlehem Steel when she first met Gordie Howe at the Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes on Grand River Avenue in Detroit in 1950. They were married on April 15, 1953. They raised four children: future hockey players Marty and Mark, physician son Murray, and daughter, Cathy, who later worked for the family's business.
Colleen Howe founded the Detroit Junior Red Wings and created the charitable organization, the Howe Foundation. She ran for U.S. Congress, as a Republican candidate, while living in Connecticut.
She was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, and was honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
Gordie and Colleen Howe Middle School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, is named after the couple,
A portion of the press release from the Detroit Red Wings:
"Colleen was an outstanding businesswoman having developed a number of business interests during Gordie's playing career. She was president of Power Play International and Power Play Publications, was an Amway distributor, sold insurance, and once ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican candidate in Connecticut.
"She also organized the family's philanthropic efforts, including the Howe Foundation, which generated funds for children of all ages in need. Her mission was to improve the quality of life through developing programs for children in physical or psychological crisis, and the foundation has continued to grow through the years by raising thousands in funds.
"Colleen Howe was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. She was also honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
"In the Red Wings' book as a tribute to Gordie Howe that was published in Oct. 2007, Mr. Hockey wrote a very touching dedication to the woman that he loved from the time he saw her bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes down the street from Olympia Stadium on Grand River Ave. in 1951. The couple was married on April 15, 1953.
"Gordie wrote, 'I dedicate this book to my lovely bride Colleen. While I received the applause, you stood behind me and cheered the loudest. While I focused on improving my game, you made sure the bills were getting paid. While I was on the overnight trains and planes from city to city, you were tucking in the kids and teaching them to pray for their daddy. You have been my biggest fan, my agent, my dietician, my counselor... And even now as you battle for your life, you are my inspiration, my strength, and the love of my life.
"Colleen is survived by her husband Gordie; sons Marty, Mark and Murray, and daughter Cathy; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild."
Colleen Howe was co-author of the books "After the Applause," "My Three Hockey Players" and a self-published autobiography, "and ... HOWE!"
Colleen was an award-winning video producer, sold life insurance, ran for the U.S. House in Connecticut, and owned cattle and llamas, a travel agency, and had an Amway distributorship.
Colleen Joffa Howe, wife of hockey great, Gordie Howe, entered eternal life at her home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, on Friday, March 6, 2009. "Mrs. Hockey" was 76 years old. She was 70 years old when stricken with Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia similar to Alzheimer's, which alters personality and character and whose progression cannot be slowed.
Colleen Joffa was born on February 17, 1933 and spent part of her childhood in Sandusky, Michigan, where an ice arena bearing her name was dedicated in 2000. After her parents' divorce, she moved with her mother and stepfather to Detroit, where she completed high school. She was working as a secretary at Bethlehem Steel when she first met Gordie Howe at the Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes on Grand River Avenue in Detroit in 1950. They were married on April 15, 1953. They raised four children: future hockey players Marty and Mark, physician son Murray, and daughter, Cathy, who later worked for the family's business.
Colleen Howe founded the Detroit Junior Red Wings and created the charitable organization, the Howe Foundation. She ran for U.S. Congress, as a Republican candidate, while living in Connecticut.
She was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, and was honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
Gordie and Colleen Howe Middle School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, is named after the couple,
A portion of the press release from the Detroit Red Wings:
"Colleen was an outstanding businesswoman having developed a number of business interests during Gordie's playing career. She was president of Power Play International and Power Play Publications, was an Amway distributor, sold insurance, and once ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican candidate in Connecticut.
"She also organized the family's philanthropic efforts, including the Howe Foundation, which generated funds for children of all ages in need. Her mission was to improve the quality of life through developing programs for children in physical or psychological crisis, and the foundation has continued to grow through the years by raising thousands in funds.
"Colleen Howe was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. She was also honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
"In the Red Wings' book as a tribute to Gordie Howe that was published in Oct. 2007, Mr. Hockey wrote a very touching dedication to the woman that he loved from the time he saw her bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes down the street from Olympia Stadium on Grand River Ave. in 1951. The couple was married on April 15, 1953.
"Gordie wrote, 'I dedicate this book to my lovely bride Colleen. While I received the applause, you stood behind me and cheered the loudest. While I focused on improving my game, you made sure the bills were getting paid. While I was on the overnight trains and planes from city to city, you were tucking in the kids and teaching them to pray for their daddy. You have been my biggest fan, my agent, my dietician, my counselor... And even now as you battle for your life, you are my inspiration, my strength, and the love of my life.
"Colleen is survived by her husband Gordie; sons Marty, Mark and Murray, and daughter Cathy; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild."
Colleen Howe was co-author of the books "After the Applause," "My Three Hockey Players" and a self-published autobiography, "and ... HOWE!"
Colleen was an award-winning video producer, sold life insurance, ran for the U.S. House in Connecticut, and owned cattle and llamas, a travel agency, and had an Amway distributorship.
Colleen Joffa was born on February 17, 1933 and spent part of her childhood in Sandusky, Michigan, where an ice arena bearing her name was dedicated in 2000. After her parents' divorce, she moved with her mother and stepfather to Detroit, where she completed high school. She was working as a secretary at Bethlehem Steel when she first met Gordie Howe at the Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes on Grand River Avenue in Detroit in 1950. They were married on April 15, 1953. They raised four children: future hockey players Marty and Mark, physician son Murray, and daughter, Cathy, who later worked for the family's business.
Colleen Howe founded the Detroit Junior Red Wings and created the charitable organization, the Howe Foundation. She ran for U.S. Congress, as a Republican candidate, while living in Connecticut.
She was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, and was honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
Gordie and Colleen Howe Middle School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, is named after the couple,
A portion of the press release from the Detroit Red Wings:
"Colleen was an outstanding businesswoman having developed a number of business interests during Gordie's playing career. She was president of Power Play International and Power Play Publications, was an Amway distributor, sold insurance, and once ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican candidate in Connecticut.
"She also organized the family's philanthropic efforts, including the Howe Foundation, which generated funds for children of all ages in need. Her mission was to improve the quality of life through developing programs for children in physical or psychological crisis, and the foundation has continued to grow through the years by raising thousands in funds.
"Colleen Howe was the first woman inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. She was also honored as Michigan's Sportswoman of the Year in 1973.
"In the Red Wings' book as a tribute to Gordie Howe that was published in Oct. 2007, Mr. Hockey wrote a very touching dedication to the woman that he loved from the time he saw her bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes down the street from Olympia Stadium on Grand River Ave. in 1951. The couple was married on April 15, 1953.
"Gordie wrote, 'I dedicate this book to my lovely bride Colleen. While I received the applause, you stood behind me and cheered the loudest. While I focused on improving my game, you made sure the bills were getting paid. While I was on the overnight trains and planes from city to city, you were tucking in the kids and teaching them to pray for their daddy. You have been my biggest fan, my agent, my dietician, my counselor... And even now as you battle for your life, you are my inspiration, my strength, and the love of my life.
"Colleen is survived by her husband Gordie; sons Marty, Mark and Murray, and daughter Cathy; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild."
Colleen Howe was co-author of the books "After the Applause," "My Three Hockey Players" and a self-published autobiography, "and ... HOWE!"
Colleen was an award-winning video producer, sold life insurance, ran for the U.S. House in Connecticut, and owned cattle and llamas, a travel agency, and had an Amway distributorship.
