By Kent Somers | Arizona Republic
From ball boy to bow-tied owner, Bill Bidwill spent more than eight decades working in the NFL, a private man who loved a very public business.
Bidwill and football were as intertwined as strands of DNA, but the sport didn’t define the man, who died on Wednesday at the age of 88.
Bidwill is survived by five children and 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His wife, Nancy, died in 2016.
“Our dad passed away today the same way he lived his life: peacefully, with grace, dignity and surrounded by family and loved ones,” Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “We are overwhelmed by the support our family has received, not only now but throughout the latest chapter of his life. We are especially grateful to the nurses, doctors and other caregivers whose endless kindness and compassion in recent years have made our dad’s life so meaningful.
“Above all else, we will remember him as a man devoted to the three central pillars of his life – his immense faith, his love for his family and his life-long passion for the Cardinals and the sport of football.”
It’s unclear who will replace Bidwill as owner, because the family has declined comment on the subject for years. It’s likely to be Michael Bidwill, the second oldest of the Bidwill children, who has been team president since 2007.
