Eleanor Gehrig

Eleanor Grace Gehrig (née Twitchell; March 6, 1904 – March 6, 1984) was an American philanthropist, socialite, and memoirist, known as the wife of American baseball player Lou Gehrig. After Gehrig's death she continued to promote his legacy and contribute to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) research. In 1976 she released her autobiography, My Luke and I. She was born March 6, 1904, in Chicago, the daughter of Nellie (née Mulvaney 1884–1968) and Frank Twitchell. She had one brother, Frank. Eleanor stated in her memoir she was a product of the roaring twenties and during this time in Chicago she led a party-girl lifestyle while climbing Chicago's social ladder, eventually meeting Gehrig at a party while he was in town for a game. At the height of a storied career, her husband was forced to retire in 1939 due to his diagnosis with the then little-known disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which would eventually become known also as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Gehrig died in 1941 from the illness at the age of 37. Eleanor traveled around the country with him during his baseball career and in his final years took care of him. In 1935, Eleanor produced a song with Fred Fisher titled "I Can't Get to First Base With You". She took control of Gehrig's estate after his death. During World War II she raised money for the cause by auctioning off some of her husband’s memorabilia, raising six million dollars. She also registered to work with the American Red Cross Motor Corps. Then president Franklin D. Roosevelt heralded her for her efforts and summoned her to meet with him at the Little White House. Eleanor was sued by Lou Gehrig's parents, believing she had withheld income generated from his life insurance policy. The case was settled out of court. In the 1960s, she stopped an alcohol brand from using Gehrig's image for an advertisement, only wanting her husband's image to be used for the public good.