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R.I.P.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Robert Mariacher, who overcame an illness to see his son-in-law, Thurman Thomas, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Thursday after a lengthy battle with encephalitis. Mariacher was 82.
Mariacher was first stricken by the brain inflammation in January 2007, and was foremost in Thomas' thoughts in the weeks before he was selected for induction into the hall.
"This has really taken the Hall of Fame off my mind. ... I've spent more time praying for my father-in-law to get well," Thomas said at the time, noting he spent numerous days at Mariacher's hospital bedside encouraging him to stay strong.
Mariacher woke from a coma 10 days prior to Thomas' selection for induction, and was fondly remembered by the former Buffalo Bills star running back during the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, in August.
"Thurman's torn up," Thomas' wife, Patti Thomas said, on Sunday.
Patti Thomas noted the relationship between her husband and father grew even closer after the couple relocated to Buffalo last fall.
"He spent a lot of quality time with him in these last couple of months, so it's really difficult for him," she said. "The fact that he's really gone is a tough thing to grasp." Mariacher is survived by his wife, Patricia, seven children and 17 grandchildren.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=678541
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Robert Mariacher, who overcame an illness to see his son-in-law, Thurman Thomas, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Thursday after a lengthy battle with encephalitis. Mariacher was 82.
"This has really taken the Hall of Fame off my mind. ... I've spent more time praying for my father-in-law to get well," Thomas said at the time, noting he spent numerous days at Mariacher's hospital bedside encouraging him to stay strong.
Mariacher woke from a coma 10 days prior to Thomas' selection for induction, and was fondly remembered by the former Buffalo Bills star running back during the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, in August.
"Thurman's torn up," Thomas' wife, Patti Thomas said, on Sunday.
Patti Thomas noted the relationship between her husband and father grew even closer after the couple relocated to Buffalo last fall.
"He spent a lot of quality time with him in these last couple of months, so it's really difficult for him," she said. "The fact that he's really gone is a tough thing to grasp." Mariacher is survived by his wife, Patricia, seven children and 17 grandchildren.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=678541
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