he really loved the Steelers

netscape.com

There are fans and then there are FANS. Mr. James Henry Smith is the latter. The 55-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers fan died last Thursday of prostate cancer, and his family sent him off to his great reward in a way he would have approved: Watching his beloved Steelers on television.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Associated Press report that Smith was laid out on a small stage in the funeral home's viewing room. The stage was decorated like Smith's living room on a game day. He was placed in a recliner with his feet crossed wearing black-and-gold pajamas and a velvety black robe and slippers, a pack of cigarettes and a six-pack of beer by his side. Steelers highlights were played on a continuous loop on a nearby TV. The remote was in Smith's hand, and a Steelers blanket was placed across his legs. The Post-Gazette called it a celebration of the "final road game."

So what did the mourners think? It depends on who you ask. His sister, MaryAnn Nails told Post-Gazette reporter Ervin Dyer, "I couldn't stop crying after looking at the Steelers blanket in his lap. He loved football, and nobody did (anything) until the game went off. It was just like he was at home." But a longtime friend, Mary Jones had just the opposite reaction. She told the Pittsburgh paper, "I saw it, and I couldn't even cry. People will see him the way he was. This is just a celebration."

Smith served in the Army in Vietnam and later in the Army Reserve and National Guard. He was employed by U.S. Steel. Smith is survived by his wife of two years, Denise Finn Smith.