Dear Editor:

I was as delighted to see the reprise of a 2004 encomium on the life of Sally O’Leary, “…the lady who runs the Pirates” in Saturday’s edition as I was saddened by news of her death last month.

For four decades, Sally lived, breathed and loved the Pirates. For seven decades, Sally also spoke with pride and fondness of her upbringing in Sheffield. Generations of Pirates’ ballplayers, office personnel and broadcasters had their lives brightened by Sally’s effervescent cheerfulness, and they always heard about “my home town of Sheffield” as well. The public relations went both ways. Sally was one of Warren County’s biggest boosters.

She was also one of the most gracious and pleasant ladies I encountered in a half-century of journalism, starting way back in the late 1960s when, as a neophyte sports editor for the Times-Observer, I sought information about the Pirates. When I got to the old Three Rivers ballpark, Sally urged me to arrive early and stop in her memorabilia-clad office, so we could chat about the Pirates and the latest fortunes of Sheffield’s athletic teams and community happenings.

The tributes that came to her in her later years reflected the genuine love she had for people, and the love of Sally that she kindled by her kindnesses. It was a pleasure to reread the uplifting story of a local woman who rubbed elbows with sports heroes yet never lost her small-town charm.

Sincerely,

Denny Bonavita,

Brookville