Karen Hammerschmidt, the wife of Colorado State offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt, lost her valiant six-year battle with breast cancer Wednesday morning at age 37.
She leaves a 10-year-old daughter, Holly, and a son Michael, 7.
She was honored at a pre-bowl luncheon last December in San Diego when she was named the most inspirational person associated with the CSU football program.
“We were at a (pre-bowl) meeting and they told us they were giving out an inspiration award. It was clear in my mind it had to be her,” CSU senior offensive tackle Clint Oldenburg said this week at the Mountain West Conference’s football preview in Coronado, Calif.
Said senior wide receiver Dustin Osborn: “It’s a horrific circumstance for the coach and his family. She showed us great hospitality and always treated us like her own kids. She’d stop by practice and say ‘hi.’ Words can’t express what you feel about someone like that.”
Of the Poinsettia Bowl honor, Osborn said: “There was no question. Everybody knew they wanted to give the award to her. We all care so much about her and wanted to show our appreciation.”
CSU coach Sonny Lubick left the MWC media event early Tuesday to be with the couple. The Hammerschmidts were vacationing in Houston, where Karen’s family lives, when she took a sudden turn for the worse.
Lubick and former CSU offensive coordinator John Benton, now with the Houston Texans, were helping Hammerschmidt with funeral arrangements.
Services will be Saturday at the Davis- Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg, Texas. At this time, no public memorial service is planned in Fort Collins.
Former CSU athletic director Mark Driscoll set up the Michael and Holly Hammerschmidt fund at the First National Bank, 205 W. Oak St., Fort Collins 80521.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
