A Life Remembered

Lou Gehrig's Wife, Eleanor Gehrig, Remembered for Her Philanthropy and Memoirs

A Life Remembered

Eleanor Grace Gehrig, née Twitchell, was an American philanthropist, socialite, and memoirist best known as the wife of the late professional baseball player Lou Gehrig. The couple was married for eight years, until Lou's untimely death in 1941. Eleanor remained a widow for over four decades, passing away in 1984.

A Widow's Legacy

Upon her passing, Eleanor Gehrig was hailed as the "First Lady of Baseball" by some media outlets. Her name remains synonymous with her husband's legacy, despite her own accomplishments as a philanthropist and writer. Eleanor supported numerous charities throughout her life, and her memoirs, "My Luke and I," provided a glimpse into the life of one of baseball's most iconic couples.

Henry Louis Gehrig, popularly known as Lou Gehrig, was born in New York City on June 19, 1903. The American professional baseball first baseman played for the New York Yankees for 17 seasons from 1923 to 1939.

Eleanor Twitchell was born on March 6, 1904, in Chicago, Illinois. She first met Lou Gehrig in 1923, and they were married in 1933. The couple's marriage was cut short when Lou was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 1939. He passed away from the disease two years later, on June 2, 1941.

After Lou's death, Eleanor Gehrig dedicated her life to philanthropy and raising awareness about ALS. She also wrote two books about her life with Lou: "My Luke and I" (1955) and "The Lou Gehrig Story" (1966).

Eleanor Gehrig died of natural causes on March 6, 1984, in New York City. She was 80 years old.