Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer early last year, former Michigan tight end Jim Mandich succumbed to the insidious disease Tuesday, multiple media outlets are reporting.
Mandich was as an All-American in 1969, Bo Schembechler‘s first season with the Wolverines. He was also Schembechler’s first captain and first team MVP.
“He was a special man and a special friend,” former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr told the Detroit News Tuesday night. “A giant at Michigan.”
Following his collegiate career, Mandich spent eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins, including the 1972 team that remains the only undefeated squad in NFL history. He went on to a lengthy career as a South Florida radio sports broadcaster.
“Jim Mandich was the consummate M Man. He didn’t want to miss a down of football when it involved his Michigan Wolverines or his Miami Dolphins. He loved football, Michigan and the Miami Dolphins. The only thing he loved more was his family,” Michigan athletic director David Brandon wrote in a posting on his blog on the school’s official website.
“To know Jim as a football player was fun. To know Jim as a businessman and leader was amazing. To know Jim as he battled cancer was unbelievable.”
The 62-year-old Mandich had been placed in hospice care this past weekend as he continued to battle bile duct cancer, a disease of which there are only 2,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Shortly after the diagnosis that would ultimately claim his life, Mandich spoke to the News and, with one quote in particular, seemed to sum up the reason why he was so beloved by those in and around the Michigan football program.
“One of the things very sobering, you go into that cancer ward and you’re feeling sorry for yourself until you’re sitting next to a 14-year-old, beautiful young lady and a 22-year-old young kid, and I’ve lived life,” Mandich said. “I was able to dispel that woe-is-me, why-me pretty quickly. I just said to myself, ‘No whining, no complaining, no bitching. You’ve lived a damned good life. You’ve got lot to be thankful for.’”
Mandich is survived by his wife of 35 years Bonnie and sons Mike, Mark and Nick. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mandich’s family and friends.
