When her son, Bears chairman George H. McCaskey, celebrated her 100th birthday in 2023, he described her greatest qualities as her “grace, quiet dignity, humility and gratitude,” and revealed that she continues to inspire him “every day in every way” with “a remarkable combination of grit and grace.”

“She’s the guiding force behind everything we do here, and everybody knows that, including the guys in the locker room,” he said at the time.

Halas revealed in his autobiography that he and his wife, Min, were expecting a boy when Min was pregnant with Virginia: “The initial shock over, I was delighted with my daughter,” Halas wrote. “I began immediately plying her with orange juice—the fad at the time for young babies—and stories of the Bears.”

During grade school when a group of boys were bragging to Virginia about meeting Chicago Cubs star Gabby Hartnett, she countered by mentioning that she personally knew Grange. When the boys refused to believe her, she returned to school with an autographed photo of Grange that read: “Dear Virginia, Sure, I do know you and I think you’re swell, Red Grange.”

Mrs. McCaskey attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she studied business management. It was there that she met her future husband, who was a student at the University of Pennsylvania and also sang in a band at local dance halls. Virginia married Ed McCaskey Feb. 2, 1943—on her father’s 48th birthday. Ed soon left for Europe to fight in World War II, serving in the Army.

“He was charming,” Mrs. McCaskey once said. “He cared about people. I think that was his best quality.”

The McCaskeys were married for 60 years until Ed passed away April 8, 2003, at the age of 83. Devout Catholics, they raised 11 children. Three of Ed and Virginia’s eight sons currently work full-time for the Bears: George is joined by vice presidents Patrick and Brian.

The McCaskeys’ oldest child, Michael, served as Bears president from 1982-99 and chairman from 1999 until his retirement in 2011. Michael passed away May 16, 2020, at the age of 76. The McCaskeys’ second oldest child, Tim, served as a Bears vice president from 1993 until his death Jan. 30, 2011.

In addition to George (Barbara), Patrick (Gretchen) and Brian (Barbara), Mrs. McCaskey is survived by sons Edward Jr. (Kathy), Richard and Joseph – and daughters Ellie (Barney) Tonquest, Mary and Anne (Mike) Catron along with 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Fittingly, Mrs. McCaskey’s final Bears game – on her 102nd birthday Jan 5 no less – was an exciting victory over the rival Packers in Green Bay decided with a game winning field goal by Cairo Santos as time expired.

“I’m just very grateful for my life and all the opportunities I’ve had,” she once said, “all the privileges I’ve had, all the games I’ve watched, all the miracles I’ve watched. I can’t think of a better life, and I hope we all value what we have and take good care of it.”

*Please click here to make a memorial donation to Bears Care in honor of Virginia Halas McCaskey.*