Carmen Berra, the longtime wife of Yankees legend Yogi Berra, died Thursday night of complications from a stroke at Crane’s Mill Assisted Living Facility in West Caldwell, N.J. She was 85.
Dave Kaplan, director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, confirmed Berra’s passing.
The Berras married on Jan. 26, 1949, and as Yogi became a Yankees superstar and then post-retirement fan favorite, Carmen Berra (born Carmen Short) evolved into the de facto First Lady of Yankees Universe.
“On behalf of the entire New York Yankees organization, we offer our deepest condolences to the Berra family,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “Having known Yogi and Carmen for so long, it is almost impossible to imagine two people who complemented each other better than they did. We will always remember Carmen’s smile and sense of humor, and her kindness and generosity will be deeply missed by all who knew her.”
Carmen and Yogi spent most of their life together in Montclair, N.J., raising three children — son Dale played briefly for manager Yogi on the 1985 Yankees — and once Yogi Berra ended his 13-plus-year feud with George Steinbrenner and returned to Yankee Stadium, Carmen became Yankees royalty once more. In the Broadway play “Bronx Bombers,” which opened and closed earlier this year, the part of Carmen Berra, played by actress Tracy Shayne, was front and center as a pillar of support for her husband.
In addition to her husband and three children, Carmen Berra is survived by 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A private funeral has been scheduled for Tuesday in Montclair. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Yogi Berra Museum at 8 Yogi Berra Drive, Little Falls, N.J. 07424. Donations also may be made at yogiberramuseum.org.