Editorial: Garo Yepremian: the four quarters of an American hero
05/24/2015 06:04AM ● By Richard GawYepremian lived comfortably for many years with his wife Maritza in Avondale. After he left the N.F.L., he embraced everything about life in southern Chester County – operating businesses, developing a second career as an artist, and being a father to his two boys, Garo, Jr. and Azad. In 1998, his daughter-in-law Debby-Lu – a graduate of Unionville High School -- was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor called Intrinsic Brainstem Glioma. As Garo and Maritza stood by Debby and Azad, the helplessness they felt was palpable, and there were long stretches of time when the only sign of hope was seen in the courage of Debby’s eyes. The Garo Yepremian Foundation was founded in 2001 to fight brain diseases. Ironically, sadly and most cruelly, the very disease that Garo Yepremian devoted his energies to defeating for nearly two decades ultimately defeated him. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in May 2014 that stemmed from neuroendocrine cancer, and died on May 15 at a hospital in Media.
We are born within all of us the polarized residue of tragedy – the willingness to surrender to it, and the courage – some would say anger – to never let ourselves be overcome by it. Garo Yepremian chose courage; he chose not to stand idle and watch his daughter-in-law suffer, so he used his name and the sport that made him famous as a conduit – a connection to hope, and although Debby-Lu lost her fight in 2004, the foundation has continued to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars that have gone directly to brain tumor research.
If football served as the first quarter of his life, and his family the second, it will be the third and fourth quarters of Garo Yepremian’s life where the truest measure of his life will be remembered. In the wake of his passing, we pause to see the course of his life soar like a kicked ball spiral perfectly through the uprights. In the wake of his passing, we pause just long enough to see the scoreboard. We add up all the numbers. He has won.
To learn more about The Garo Yepremian Foundation, and to make a contribution, visit www.yepremian.org.