Who is Mary Anne Stephens (Don Shula’s wife)?
Mary Anne Stephens (born: Mary Anne Hurst) is the wife of former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula. She is known for her work as a producer for Teamwork Baby and ESPN SportsCentury (1999).
Stephens is also a philanthropist being active in various charities and has supported many different organizations. In 1990, Mary Anne was named the Arkansas Citizen of the Year in 1990 by March of Dimes for her charity work. This was a result of helping students with learning disabilities by leading a fundraiser for a national learning center at the University of the Ozarks in Arkansas raising $28 million.
Stephens also hosted a gala in Miami Beach at the Fontainebleau Hilton for the Miami Heart Institute. Being the chairwoman of the gala, she raised over $400,000 according to the Sun-Sentinel report.
How Old is Mary Anne Stephens?
Stephens is 74 years old as of 2019. However, she has not yet shared her date of birth or when she celebrates her birthday.
Mary Anne Stephens Family
Stephens was born in a family of six children as the fifth one. Her father was a soybean and cotton farmer and also a rancher and her mother served as a nurse and Bible teacher.
She grew up in a small town called Coal Hill, Arkansas, located between the Ozarks and the Arkansas River valley. She came from a poor family. At the age of 15, Stephens moved out of her parent’s home went to live with her older sister, Colleen who’s husband was a military man.
Mary Anne Stephens Husband
Stephens has been married four times. She was first married to John Maddox Smith when she was 18 and James Keller at the age of 24.
In January 1981, she got married to Jackson Stephens, a multi-millionaire Little Rock, AR investment banker. She filed for divorce in 1991 15 days after their 10th wedding anniversary. In their divorce settlement, Stephens gave her their home on exclusive Indian Creek Island, Florida. This is a 13,300-square-foot house said to be worth $4.14 million. She also received $1 million a year for the rest of her life.
Mary Anne Stephens Don Shula
Stephens met professional football coach and player, Don Shula at a New Year’s Day party in 1992 on Indian Creek Island, Florida, at golfer Ray Floyd’s home. Shula holds the NFL record for most career wins as a head coach with 347 (328 in the regular season). He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. As a professional, Shula played for Cleveland Browns (1951–1952), Baltimore Colts (1953–1956), and Washington Redskins (1957). He has served as a coach for, Virginia (1958), Kentucky (1959), Detroit Lions (1960), Detroit Lions (1961–1962), Baltimore Colts (1963–1969), and Miami Dolphins (1970–1995).
Shula and Stephens began dating spring, Shula having lost his first wife Dorothy Bartish, died of breast cancer in 1991.
The couple got married on October 16, 1993. At the time of their marriage, Shula was 63 years old and Stephens was 48. Their wedding ceremony took place at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Miami Beach. It was small and private which was not publicized.
Throughout their marriage, Stephens was very supportive of her husband, Shula. Thos close to them, believed they were a very happy couple. : “Shula and Stephens smooch in public, hold hands at the dinner table and nibble off each other’s plates.” Stephens pushed her husband to be more adventurous “and to try things that he hasn’t done before, like dancing to rock ‘n’ roll, zipping around in her boat and snorkeling.”
Don Shula’s Death
Shula died on May 4, 2020, at his home in Indian Creek, near Miami Beach. His sudden death was announced by the Miami Dolphins on Twitter.
Shula is survived by his sons David and Michael, daughters, Donna, Sharon and Annie; and three stepchildren, John Smith, Jimmy Stephens, and Carrie LaNoce; 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his sisters Jennette and Irene, and a brother, Jim.
Mary Anne Stephens Children
From her first two marriages, Stephens has a daughter and two sons, She is also step-mother to Mike Shula, and David Shula.
Mary Anne Stephens Net Worth
Stephens is worth millions having gained greatly from her divorce settlement from Jackson Stephens. However, her actual net worth remains undisclosed.
