RuthAnn Lobo, who fought a public battle with breast cancer during her daughter Rebecca Lobo's time at UConn, died of the disease Tuesday, the university announced.
Lobo, 67, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995, Rebecca's junior year with the Huskies. She recently suffered a reoccurrence of the disease.
Together, RuthAnn and Rebecca wrote "The Home Team", a book chronicling Rebecca's basketball career and her mom's fight with breast cancer, which included a double mastectomy and chemotherapy.
Both women became outspoken advocates for other women battling breast cancer, and worked with the WNBA to create a forum for women to discuss the disease.
RuthAnn received many awards, including the Maria Miller Stewart Award for mentoring young girls and boys and advocating equality for girls in education, and the Susan G. Komen Award, Connecticut Chapter. The award has since been renamed the Komen RuthAnn Lobo Award in her honor. A long-time educator, she was also a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
