Lambeau Ladies

The impetus for this book happened in 2017 during a spontaneous drive through Green Bay with Ruth Pitts, Vicky Aldridge and Peggy Kostelnik. As they laughed, chatted and reminisced about the years they spent together as Packers wives in Green Bay, some very clear themes emerged—friendship, loyalty, strength, humor and love. Beyond that, we could not believe how young they were and how they all arrived in Green Bay at such a pivotal time for the NFL. We found these largely untold stories both refreshing and inspirational. Katherine suggested we write a book to celebrate the strength of these remarkable women.

Our favorite part was getting to have such entertaining and fascinating conversations with so many people. We debriefed after every interview and, unfailingly, we talked about how much we enjoyed the conversations we had and how excited we were to share those stories. Each woman had us laughing and surprised us in the best way. We particularly enjoyed learning about Flo Bettis and the family atmosphere she fostered in the apartments she managed and the “holy roller” parties she hosted for players and priests.

The most challenging part was the age of our heroines. We dressed especially well for our Facetime interview with Cherry Starr because she always struck us as a style icon. That day, her assistant logged on and told us that, though Cherry had really been looking forward to the interview, she wasn’t feeling well enough to do it. She asked if we could reschedule. Of course, we agreed. Sadly, Cherry passed away a few days later. We also lost Barbara Gregg, which was especially sad because she had been so enthusiastic about this book. We formally interviewed Barbara twice, and we called to fact-check with her a few times too. Vicky Aldridge Nelson passed away in 2018, after she helped inspire the book but before we began working on it. These losses also galvanized our commitment to see this project through because we feel so strongly that their stories deserve to be told.

Our dad/grandpa, Ron Kostelnik, cherished his own Packer friendships and his eight years with the Packers were among the most influential of his life. He was extremely touched to have been inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 1989, and to have been selected as an honorary captain in 1992. We believe this book honors him and the team he loved.

We really loved working on this project together. We live 2,000 miles apart, so just the opportunity to spend so much time together—both virtually and in person—was a treat. In the time we began working on this book, Katherine got engaged, married, got pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl she and her husband, Ed, named Laura June. So, in addition to our matriarch, Peggy Kostelnik, this project actually involved four generations of family.

They had absolutely no idea what they were getting into but they all plunged in anyway, and they handled their lives, then and now, with admirable grace. As the first generation of WAGS, (though, of course, no one called them that then), they set a standard. So many of them also went on to achieve great things in their own lives once their Lambeau Ladies years ended. These stories go beyond football and offer the joy of lifelong friendship in the midst of divisive times.

We hope they appreciate the wisdom of a seasoned generation, the enduring power of female friendships, the healthy devotion of committed spouses, and the glory of a Packers legacy that transcends the men who played the game.