Denny Crum’s wife, Susan Sweeny is an American news anchor and reporter. Through her work as a journalist, she worked for stations like the public radio station WFPL. Also, she is an activist and a community mobilizer in fighting substance and child abuse among other causes.
Her husband, Denny Crum rose to fame as a basketball player and coach for teams like the Cardinals. Sweeny’s marriage to the former basketball coach lasted till his death on May 9, 2023, from natural causes.
Who is Denny Crum’s Wife, Susan Sweeny?
Susan Sweeny is an American newswoman and celebrity wife of Denny Crum who was born sometime in 1963 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Regarding her educational pursuit, Sweeny attended Western Kentucky University. Since her graduation from the school, she has maintained close ties with her Alma Mata.
Focusing on her career, Susan is one of the recognizable names in the news section of her hometown. Understandably, she launched her news career in the same town in 1985. This was shortly after she graduated from college. At the time, she interned at the WHAS Radio station before later switching to WHAS TV.
As her career started expanding, she joined the newly formed WDRB station in 1990 where she launched herself as a household name over the years.
Denny Crum’s Wife is also an Activist
Aside from putting her voice on the airwaves and on screen, she is an advocate for many causes. She openly speaks out against Child abuse and the use of substances. In order to reach a large audience, she partners with many organizations like the Council to Prevent Child Abuse and Council on Prevention and Education: Substance. Notably, her work with these organizations has led to her sitting as a member or president of some of their boards.
Apparently, she creates awareness for issues like research on hand and microsurgery as well as growing athletics programs. Notably, her passion for the latter is something she shares in common with her husband who founded the Denny Crum Scholarship Foundation. Over the years, she has served on the boards of these organizations;
- Council to Prevent Child Abuse in Frankfurt
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances
- Mattingly Center
- Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Micro Surgery
- Spalding University Athletics Advisory Board
- Hand in Hand Ministries
- Arthritis Foundation of Kentucky
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Denny Crum Scholarship Foundation
In 2015, she was recognized as the Irish Person of the Year by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Susan Sweeny was Married to the Former Basketball Coach for Over Two Decades
The news anchor got married to Crum on June 9, 2001, at Saint Francis, Fields Episcopal Church. Their marriage came a few months after his retirement from coaching the Louisville Cardinals. While Wikipedia reports the marriage to be his second, other sources state it to be his third marriage.
He was first married to Joyce Elaine Lunsford whom he tied the knot with in 1951. His second marriage was in 1977 to Joyce Phillips.
Sweeny’s Husband, Denny Crum Fathered Three Children
Despite being together with Denny for over two decades, they never had any children together. Nonetheless, her husband had three children from his previous marriages thus making her a stepmother.
Sweeney is the stepmother of Denny’s three adult children, a daughter named Cynthia Crum and Steve Crum from his marriage with Joyce Elaine and Robert Scott Crum whom he had with his second wife.
Also, she refers to the dogs they keep on their farm as her fur babies.
See Also: Who Is Dinah Mattingly, Larry Bird’s Wife? Unknown Details
Denny Crum Died of Natural Causes
According to news reports, Denny Crum died on May 9, 2023, at his home. The news was publicized by the University of Louisville in a statement after Susan told them. Cool Hand Luke as he was popularly known because of his calm appearance guided the Cardinals to 2 NCAA championships and 2 finals was 83 at the time of his death.
Previously he had suffered two strokes. The first was in August 2017 while on a fishing trip in Alaska. At the time, he got hospitalized at the Norton Brownsboro Hospital and was released days later.
The next stroke was in 2019 and like the first, he was able to pull through. He attended therapy sessions at the Frazier Rehab. Notably, the sad news of his death was quite shocking due to his strength in fighting past ordeals and his record as a successful coach.
Thankfully, the legacy of the Hall of Famer will continue through the Denny Crum Scholarship Foundation, Inc which raises scholarships for outstanding students.
