Despite his divorce from Cindy after a 19-year marriage, Ryne found happiness with Margaret Koehnemann, sharing over 30 devoted years until her passing.
Ryne Sandberg was a legendary American baseball player, best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs as a second baseman.
Born in 1959, he was one of the best at his position, winning nine Gold Glove Awards and earning a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
After retiring as a player, he also worked as a coach and manager.
Sadly, Ryne Sandberg passed away on July 28, 2025, at the age of 65 after a battle with metastatic prostate cancer.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in January 2024. At that time, he shared that the cancer had already spread beyond the prostate, making it a more serious condition.
Ryne Sandberg And His First Wife Divorced After 16 Years Of Marriage!
Ryne Sandberg was married twice. In 1979, he first married his high school sweetheart, Cindy White, when he was just 19 years old.
At that time, he was beginning his first full season in professional baseball, playing for the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league.
He was just a teen, facing the pressure of pro ball and feeling the sting of homesickness. This is why he married Cindy to stabilize the transition of his life.
Together, they had two children: Justin and Lindsey Sandberg. However, their marriage faced challenges during his playing years.
Over time, the pressure of fame, travel, and distance strained their relationship.
Cindy first filed for divorce in 1993, calling the marriage irretrievably broken.
They briefly reconciled, but she refiled in June 1994, just a week after Ryne announced his surprise retirement from baseball.
The divorce was finalized in July 1995, and despite the split, they lived in the same neighborhood and shared custody through a detailed coparenting plan.
Just one month later, Sandberg married Margaret Koehnemann, a neighbor and mother of three from a previous marriage, BR, Adriane, and Steven.
They remained together for 30 years until his passing, and he often credited her as his “rock,” especially during his battle with cancer.
Together, they founded Ryno Kid Care, a charity supporting children with serious illnesses.
Additionally, Sandberg was also a proud grandfather to eight grandchildren. His social media often showed him enjoying quiet family moments.
Likewise, on May 12, 2024, he celebrated Mother’s Day with a warm tribute to is wife, saying:
Happy Mothers Day to my wife Margaret and life partner! We will be celebrating 30 years together next year, the experiences, events, and memories are endless. I wouldn’t have wanted to been with anyone else and she has made my life fun and has made me a better person and continues to do so. These past 6 months have been a journey and test for both of us but she has taken complete control of my battle with cancer like a Team Captain and I’ve managed to be as comfortable as possible and do all the doctors have ordered because of her. It has been a lot for her to take on but she has been the one I credit a lot for my successful winning of the battle! I love her more than ever! She is my Rock and with her by my side I can conquer anything! 🌷 Thank you for your support and prayers to both of us.
In the same post, he also anticipated their 30th anniversary in 2025. Despite battling cancer in recent years, Ryne remained deeply connected to his family and continued to engage in sports.
Additionally, he remained connected and co-parented his children from his first marriage, even after the divorce.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Sandberg was selected as an All-Star 10 times between 1984 and 1993.
- He earned 7 Silver Slugger Awards in the years 1984, 1985, and 1988 through 1992.
- The Cubs retired his jersey number 23 on August 28, 2005, in honor of his legacy.
