Helen Essenhart Wiki (Dick Butkus Wife), Biography, Husband, Age, Kids, Family, Net Worth & Educa

Publish date: 2024-05-03

Helen Essenhart is the wife of the late Dick Butkus, a legendary NFL linebacker and Hall of Famer who played for the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1973. She is a devoted and supportive spouse who stayed away from the limelight and focused on raising their three children. Her spouse Dick Butkus passed away on October 5, 2023, at the age of 80 at their home in Malibu, California.

Contents

Biography & Qualifications

She was born in the United States of America, in 1948. She met Dick Butkus in high school at Chicago Vocational High School, where he was a star athlete and she was a cheerleader. They began dating soon after and got married on July 6, 1963, while they were studying at the University of Illinois. Helen Essenhart graduated with a degree in education and Dick majored in physical education.

Quick Trivia

NameHelen Essenhart
Date of Birth1948
Age (as of 2023)75 years old
Place of BirthChicago, Illinois
ResidenceMalibu, California
EthnicityWhite
SpouseDick Butkus (m. 1963-2023)
ChildrenRicky Butkus, Matt Butkus, Nikki Butkus
GrandchildrenRyan, Jake, Luke, Cole, Max, Grace, Ava, Mia, Leo
EducationUniversity of Illinois (B.A. in Education)
Net WorthUnknown (shared with husband)
ReligionCatholic
HobbiesCooking, baking, reading, watching movies, traveling, collecting dolls

Marriage and Family

Helen and Dick Butkus had a long and happy marriage that lasted for 60 years. They moved to Los Angeles in 1974 after Dick retired from football due to a knee injury. They settled in Malibu and enjoyed a peaceful life away from the media attention.

Helen Essenhart supported her husband’s charitable work through the Butkus Foundation, which promotes health and wellness for children and adults. She also encouraged his acting career, which included roles in movies and TV shows such as My Two Dads, The Longest Yard, Necessary Roughness, and Blue Thunder.

Essenhart and Dick had three children: two sons named Ricky and Matt and a daughter named Nikki. Ricky followed his father’s footsteps and played football at USC as a linebacker. He later became a sports agent and represented several NFL players.

Matt also played football at USC as a defensive lineman but did not pursue a professional career. He became a businessman and worked in real estate and finance. Nikki studied journalism at USC and worked as a reporter and producer for various media outlets. She also wrote a book about her father called Papa Bear: The Life and Legacy of George Halas.

Helen was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She had nine grandchildren: Ryan, Jake, Luke, Cole, Max, Grace, Ava, Mia, and Leo.

Career and Net Worth

Helen Essenhart did not have a public career but she was an integral part of her husband’s success. She was his biggest fan and his best friend. She helped him cope with the challenges of being an NFL star and the transition to retirement. She also supported his endeavors in acting and philanthropy. She was a loyal partner who stood by his side through thick and thin.

Helen’s net worth is not known but she shared her husband’s wealth, which was estimated to be $18 million at the time of his death. They owned several properties in California and Illinois, including their Malibu mansion which was worth $6 million.

Personal Life and Trivia

Helen was a private person who valued her family above everything else. She was not active on social media or involved in any controversies. She was a devout Catholic who attended church regularly. Helen Essenhart was also an animal lover who had several pets over the years.

Some trivia facts about Helen Essenhart are:

Death and Legacy

Helen Essenhart’s husband passed away on October 5, 2023, at the age of 80 at their home in Malibu. The cause of his death has not been revealed but it is believed that he died of natural causes. His family issued a statement saying that they were “heartbroken” by the loss of their beloved parent.

Dick will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and human being who touched many lives with his kindness and generosity. Helen will also be remembered as the woman behind the hall-of-fame linebacker who inspired millions of football fans with his passion and talent.

Dick Butkus’ Professional Career

In 1965, Butkus was drafted by both the NFL’s Chicago Bears and the AFL’s Denver Broncos. Although the Bears offered less money than the Broncos, he couldn’t resist the chance to play for his hometown team under coach George Halas.

Butkus scored the first points of his NFL career in November of 1969 in a 38-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Butkus’ career was cut short by knee injuries that forced him to retire after nine seasons in 1973.

After retiring from playing, Butkus ventured into acting, sports commentating, and philanthropy. He worked as a color analyst for CBS Sports’ NFL coverage from 1976 to 1978 and for NBC Sports’ college football coverage from 1979 to 1985. He also hosted several sports shows such as “The NFL Today” and “The Sports List”.

Butkus also founded several charitable organizations such as The Dick Butkus Foundation. He also donated his brain to the Boston University CTE Center for research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma.

NameDick Butkus
Birth DateDecember 9, 1942
Birth PlaceChicago, Illinois
Death DateOctober 5, 2023
Death PlaceMalibu, California
Cause of DeathUnknown
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight245 lb (111 kg)
PositionLinebacker
CollegeIllinois
NFL Draft1965 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
NFL TeamChicago Bears (1965-1973)
Pro Bowls8 (1965-1972)
All-Pro Selections6 (1965, 1968-1970, 1972)
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards2 (1969, 1970)
Interceptions22
Fumble Recoveries27 [a]
Jersey Number51
SpouseHelen Essenhart (m. 1963)
ChildrenRicky Butkus, Matt Butkus, Nikki Butkus
Grandchildren9

Summary

Dick Butkus was an American football player, sports commentator, and actor who played as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the NFL from 1965 to 1973. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating linebackers in pro football history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Malibu, California on October 5, 2023. He was 80 years old.

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