Man tours ballparks in wife's memory - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 08-23-2009, 12:38 AM

This is sd, but sweet

BOSTON - A man is on a mission to visit all the Major League parks this year, but he's not doing it for the love of the game, he's doing it for the woman who was the love of his life.

Bob DeVries lost his wife Shawn to a rare heart condition last year.

“We had no idea she was sick. The night she died from cardiac arrest she ran five miles,” he said.

While trying to cope with her passing, friends and family encouraged him to honor her memory by doing something they both loved to do – catch a ballgame.

But one wasn’t near enough. Bob wanted to do it in every Major League ball park in the country. Fenway was his 28th stop on Friday night.

“When you come to Fenway as a kid, like Wrigley, it always sticks with you,” DeVries said.

Wearing his Chicago Cubs jersey, DeVries stood proudly on a busy Lansdowne Street, moments before the Red Sox took on the Yankees in a big series.

Bob and Shawn were diehard baseball fans. Bob is a Cubs fan. Shawn was a Yankees fan. They named their dog “Jeter.”

“As a Cubs fan, everyone has bragging rights over me. So when I married her I legally became a Yankee fan, although I never told her this, but I was somewhat of a Red Sox fan,” he said.

Close to his heart are the couple's wedding bands which he now wears around his neck. In his hand, an extra ticket for his wife Shawn.

The seat next to his was empty once again on Friday. And even though his journey is coming to a close, it is one that has helped him move on.

“It's the experience of saying the first year Shawn passed away, I didn't sit on couch. I got up and did something,” he said.

“It's time to get an apartment, time to get stuff out of storage. It’s time to get a normal life as normal as it can be,” he said.

Bob will head to Toronto next, and then he’ll head to New York to see the Mets and the Cubs, which will bring an end to his tour.

Fittingly, those same teams played when the couple went to their first game together.

InspectorExstead · 08-23-2009, 02:11 AM

Aww, very sad but cute & touching at the same time.

Schmoopie · 08-23-2009, 03:35 AM

What a wonderful way to remember a loved one! Thanks for sharing that touching story!

browneyes106 · 08-23-2009, 12:18 PM

Very touching story.

08-23-2009, 12:38 AM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Man tours ballparks in wife's memory This is sd, but sweet BOSTON - A man is on a mission to visit all the Major League parks this year, but he's not doing it for the love of the game, he's doing it for the woman who was the love of his life. Bob DeVries lost his wife Shawn to a rare heart condition last year. “We had no idea she was sick. The night she died from cardiac arrest she ran five miles,” he said. While trying to cope with her passing, friends and family encouraged him to honor her memory by doing something they both loved to do – catch a ballgame. But one wasn’t near enough. Bob wanted to do it in every Major League ball park in the country. Fenway was his 28th stop on Friday night. “When you come to Fenway as a kid, like Wrigley, it always sticks with you,” DeVries said. Wearing his Chicago Cubs jersey, DeVries stood proudly on a busy Lansdowne Street, moments before the Red Sox took on the Yankees in a big series. Bob and Shawn were diehard baseball fans. Bob is a Cubs fan. Shawn was a Yankees fan. They named their dog “Jeter.” “As a Cubs fan, everyone has bragging rights over me. So when I married her I legally became a Yankee fan, although I never told her this, but I was somewhat of a Red Sox fan,” he said. Close to his heart are the couple's wedding bands which he now wears around his neck. In his hand, an extra ticket for his wife Shawn. The seat next to his was empty once again on Friday. And even though his journey is coming to a close, it is one that has helped him move on. “It's the experience of saying the first year Shawn passed away, I didn't sit on couch. I got up and did something,” he said. “It's time to get an apartment, time to get stuff out of storage. It’s time to get a normal life as normal as it can be,” he said. Bob will head to Toronto next, and then he’ll head to New York to see the Mets and the Cubs, which will bring an end to his tour. Fittingly, those same teams played when the couple went to their first game together.

08-23-2009, 02:11 AM	#2
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	Aww, very sad but cute & touching at the same time.
	__________________ They killed my sister because she asked: "Where is my vote?" http://sosiran.com/ http://tapeshhd.com/index.php

08-23-2009, 03:35 AM	#3
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	What a wonderful way to remember a loved one! Thanks for sharing that touching story!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-23-2009, 12:18 PM	#4
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	Very touching story.