Virginia McCaskey, Chicago Bears owner and daughter of founder George Halas, dies at 102

CHICAGO — Virginia McCaskey, longtime owner of the Chicago Bears, has died at age 102, the team announced Thursday.

“While we are sad, we are comforted knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faith-filled life and is now with the love of her life on earth,” the family said. “She guided the Bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans.”

Virginia McCaskey has served as the Bears owner since October 31, 1983, on the death of her father, Bears founder George Halas.

McCaskey was born in 1923 in Chicago and was the oldest George and Min Halas’ two children, with her younger brother George S. “Mugs” Halas Jr.

She studied at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., where she met her future husband, Edward W. McCaskey, the Bears said. The two married on February 2, 1943, in St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Bel Air, Md. before Mr. McCaskey would go into military service in World War II after his ROTC training.

Mrs. McCaskey had 11 children, eight sons and three daughters. She is survived by her sons – Patrick (Gretchen), Edward Jr. (Kathy), George (Barbara), Richard, Brian (Barbara) and Joseph – and daughters Ellen (Barney) Tonquest, Mary and Anne (Mike) Catron. Her husband passed away in 2003. Their son, Timothy, passed in 2011 and Michael passed in 2020. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.