Chick Hearn and Marge Jeffers were married for over six decades. The longtime married couple shared two children.
Chick Hearn, known for his rapid-fire commentary and iconic phrases, was the voice of the Los Angeles Lakers for over four decades.
Marge Hearn Jeffers, the beloved wife of legendary sportscaster Chick Hearn, stood by her husband’s side through every thick and thin until his last breath.
Marge and Chick were married for over six decades- 64 years, to be precise.
They walked down the aisle on August 13, 1938, and were together until Hearn’s passing in 2002.
Marge and Hearn welcomed two children into their lives: a son, Gary, and a daughter, Samantha, also known as Janice.
However, they predeceased their parents. Gary succumbed to a drug overdose, while Samantha lost her battle with anorexia.
Marge and Chick Hearn found solace in their close relationship with their granddaughter, Shannon Hearn, and later their great-granddaughter, Kayla Hearn-Newman.
Chick Hearn’s Wife, Marge, Outlived Him by Over 13 Years!
Chick Hearn took his last breath on August 5, 2002, from a head injury sustained in a fall at their Encino home. His death came just eight days before their 64th wedding anniversary.
Until his last breath, Marge was beside him, supporting him like she did in her entire life.
Lakers president Jeanie Buss once described Marge as “the First Lady of the Lakers,” a tribute to her six-decade presence alongside Chick.
Marge was a familiar face at games and events, always supporting her husband and the team.
Marge Hearn outlived her husband by over 13 years, passing away on January 30, 2016, at the age of 98 from natural causes in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Chick Hearn broadcast 3,338 consecutive Lakers games from November 21, 1965, until December 16, 2001.
- His final broadcast was for the Lakers‘ radio feed of Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals, where the Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets to win their third consecutive NBA championship.
