Cleveland Browns Fan’s Obituary Draws National Attention
An official Browns jersey with her husband’s name on the back was presented by team officials to Patty Colombo-Entsminger, but the Mansfield woman said the greatest gift she received Tuesday was nothing tangible.
“I think the best thing we all can take away is the memory of today,” said the widow of Scott Entsminger, 55, who died July 4 from pancreatic cancer. “It’s just been incredible, the outpouring of love. It has all lifted our spirits like you wouldn’t believe.”
Patty said her husband and his brother, Bill Entsminger, attended every Browns home game together since 1999.
Bill wrote his brother’s obit, inserting the lines: “A lifelong Cleveland Browns fan and season ticket holder, he also wrote a song each year and sent it to the Cleveland Browns as well as offering other advice on how to run the team. He respectfully requests six Cleveland Browns pall bearers so the Browns can let him down one last time.”
Those two lines created a media frenzy, with Patty receiving countless calls from national media outlets such as CBS Sports, ESPN and the Huffington Post.
A life celebration took place Tuesday in Mansfield.
The theme was all Browns, with two large displays of Scott’s memoribillia, his Browns jacket at the front of the room and the entire first row of family clad in Browns jerseys.
When Scott’s sister, Lois Courtright, asked for comments and stories from friends and family, two people in the back stood up.
Michele DeScioli, the Browns Backer manager, and Rico Rivera, guest relations manager, walked up to the front and asked Patty to join them.
The pair then presented her with a jersey with No. 76, for Scott’s favorite player Lou Groza, on the back, and “Entsminger” written above.
“We’re just thrilled to have the opportunity to be here to celebrate a lifelong season ticket holder and Browns Backer,” DeScioli said. “This was the chance to meet his family and learn more about Scott, and we have really enjoyed being here.”
Rivera said he was Scott’s account representative for the past three years.
“I particularly remembered him because of his sense of humor. It just really made him stand out,” he said. “I just wanted to be here today to show support for his family. I can’t believe all of their positive attitudes despite the situation. They’re all such loving people. It’s very inspiring.”
Longtime friend Chuck Sparks said he participated in a few Pittsburgh Steelers card burnings with Scott.
“We danced and tried to put a hex on them,” he said with a laugh.
Courtright, of Galloway, said she was as amazed as anyone at the attention the obituary received.
“I read online somewhere that someone said, ‘He must have been the coolest guy ever,’” she said. “And he was.”
Joyce Rhinehart said she went to school with Scott, and shared a fond memory of when they were 14. When crossing a large puddle in a field, Scott took his coat off and laid it across the water so her feet would not get wet.
“He set the bar so high for the future men in my life,” she said. “He was just a very sweet, nice guy and I’m envious of those who knew him later in life as I’m sorry to say I didn’t.”
Dominic Milano, of Lexington, said he knew Scott since 1976.
“We were like allies,” he said. “We played in a band together and shared our love for the Browns. He was like a brother to me and I’ll miss him very much.”
Patty said although she was never a big Browns fan herself, she promised DeScioli and Rivera that her dogs, who always enjoyed games with her husband, would continue watching.
The dogs would always get a treat from Scott when the team scored.
“Touchdown Cleveland Browns,” Patty said.
Source: Zanesville Times Recorder
