""With sorrow, the children of Bob and Nancy Leonard announce the peaceful passing of our mother last night," the family said. "Her health steadily declined in recent months, but her will to get the most out of life never wavered as evidenced by her insistence on attending Pacers games this past season at 93 years young. She will always be the Pacers #1 fan.""
""The First Lady of Indiana basketball," Tyrese Haliburton posted on X. "Before every game, I knew I could count on a wink and a smile behind the bench. There is no Pacers basketball without Nancy Leonard. Can't wait to see the day her name is in the rafters where it belongs. RIP to a legend and a beautiful soul.""
Nancy Leonard died at 93, and her family confirmed her peaceful passing. Her health had declined in recent months, but she attended Pacers games during the past season and remained the team's top fan. She served as the Pacers' assistant general manager from 1976 to 1980, handling administrative duties while her husband coached and later became general manager during the ABA-to-NBA transition. She and her husband organized a 1977 telethon to sell season tickets that helped save the franchise, with Nancy credited for the telethon idea. She continued to attend games including the Pacers' run to the 2025 NBA Finals.
Read at ESPN.com
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