Kathy Deloplaine and her sons, Ryan and Todd, were featured as the faces of Eye Donation Month in 2023. Kathy’s husband, Jack, was a Superbowl champion member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 70’s, and a pillar of the community during his life. As a registered donor, Jack’s corneas were donated following his passing. His donation has helped Kathy come to terms with his loss and start her next chapter. Here is an update from Kathy in the year since representing Eye Donation Month.
Update on the Deloplaine Family
It has been two years and five months since my husband Jack died suddenly, leaving us
with just memories of a life well-lived. It has also been two years and three months since the recipient of Jack’s corneas has experienced life in a much fuller way, due to restored sight. This realization mitigates the grief my family and I feel after losing Jack.
We are also seeing life in a fuller view now, something you don’t really experience when everything is going well. Adversity has a way of magnifying that in a very strange and special way, strengthening our faith in God, ourselves, and others. In our new view, we recognize that Jack was very giving to others and that we also need to continue that legacy. We are more cognizant of the needs of those around us, and the value of our relationships and friendships. We continue to strengthen those bonds by reconnecting with friends and family we haven’t seen frequently over years. It is healing to reminisce about our shared experiences, but also to update each other on our lives. We all have trials, tribulations, and joys to share.
It is a mission of mine to keep Jack’s memory alive, so with assistance from the Salem University Foundation in West Virginia (Jack’s Alma Mater), we’ve established a scholarship in his memory exemplifying Jack’s values and desire to give back. The scholarship is awarded annually to a worthy recipient from Salem or the surrounding community who needs financial assistance in order to attend college, and who shows academic and athletic expertise, while actively contributing to the greater community. Thus far, we have extended four Jack Deloplaine Memorial Scholarships. I had the honor of sitting on the selection committee and witnessing firsthand the amazing talents of our young people today.
Over the next year we plan to organize events in order to raise money for the foundation, to assure our ongoing commitment is met. Jack planned to accomplish this during his lifetime, and it is now a reality. My sons and I continue to be involved with philanthropic opportunities – from sponsoring underserved childrens’ participation in athletic events to coaching and assisting community organizations in various ways. We recognize the importance of nonprofit organizations and are so grateful for the care and support that EBAA has provided us, especially by providing us a platform to talk about Jack’s life and what he means to us and others.
In the past year, I’ve attempted to do things outside my comfort zone. It has been very hard to do this without Jack physically by my side, but I know that he is there encouraging me. A trip to Italy was always on my bucket list (not his, however), so I made that happen. I’ve also been traveling with friends and family on a more regular basis. It’s a priority to see my children and grandchildren, so much of what I do is related to that. The ten-hour drive from South Carolina to Pittsburgh is a challenge for me because I suddenly had to do that by myself. But I did it. Each small accomplishment like this has made me stronger in the past two years. All three grandsons are talented athletes, like their grandfather (and Dad, Ryan), and I want to experience as much as possible their triumphs in sports and all their other accomplishments – this is definitely what Jack would do. He’d also be coaching them just as he did for our children, and every neighborhood kid in our area.
As time passes and my new reality sets in, I recognize how blessed I am for many reasons. First of all, I had remarkable husband in Jack, and together we have two amazing sons, three grandsons, and their families. I’ve also been blessed with a new view on life, the importance of others in it, and my ability to make small impacts every day. On a much larger scale, EBAA affects not only cornea recipients but donor families as well, and in such a positive way. They allow us to experience the feeling of giving back, even though our hearts are breaking, which is so rewarding. Thank you for all you do. You have made an indelible mark on our lives and those of others.
Give the gift of sight and transform lives, as Jack Deloplaine did. Register as a donor hero.
For more on eye donation, see our FAQs, and for more on Eye Donation Month, visit EyeDonationMonth.org.
