Joy Murrath, now publicly known as Joy Piccolo O’Connell, has remained closely connected to the legacy of her first husband, former Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo. Her documented public work centers on the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, where federal nonprofit filings have identified her as president.
Federal nonprofit filings document leadership roles for Joy and her daughters, while official Chicago Bears reports record her continued attendance at ceremonies connected with Brian’s memory. She has also spoken directly about the decisions she faced after his death and why public interest in his life continues to surprise her decades later.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Public name | Joy Piccolo O’Connell |
| First husband | Brian Piccolo |
| Children with Brian | Lori, Traci and Kristi |
| Documented role | President of the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund |
| Fund activities | Cancer research and community support |
| Institutional connections | Memorial Sloan Kettering and Rush University Medical Center |
| Bears connection | Regular participant in official commemorative events |
Her Marriage to Brian Piccolo and Their Family
December 26, 1964, marked the beginning of Joy Murrath and Brian Piccolo’s marriage. Their marriage followed Brian’s senior college season and began shortly before he joined the Chicago Bears as a free agent. Their family included three daughters, Lori, Traci, and Kristi.
Brian’s life changed when he was diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma. He died from the disease on June 16, 1970, at age 26. Joy was left to raise their three young daughters while deciding where the family’s future would take shape.
Official Bears coverage continues to identify Joy as Brian’s widow and documents the participation of all three daughters in events held in his memory. Their family connection has also extended into the organization created to support cancer research under Brian’s name.
Reputable reporting says Joy later remarried and had two more children. Strong sources reviewed for this profile did not establish further details about that part of her family, so her documented public story is clearest in relation to the three daughters she shared with Brian and their collective involvement in his charitable legacy.
Why Joy Chose to Remain Near Chicago
Following Brian’s death, Joy considered leaving the Chicago area. In a 2019 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, she recalled planning to sell the family’s Beverly home and move to Atlanta, where her parents lived. Returning to them would have placed Joy and her daughters closer to her original family support system during a major change in their lives.
A conversation with her neighbor, Pat Somers Cronin, influenced what happened next. According to Joy, Cronin encouraged her to continue building her life where she was instead of returning to Atlanta. The advice prompted her to reconsider the planned move.
Joy also connected her decision with Brian’s importance to Chicago and his relationship with Bears coach George Halas. She ultimately stayed rather than immediately relocating to Atlanta. The choice kept the family near the community and organization most closely associated with Brian’s professional life.
The Sun-Times reported in 2019 that Joy still lived near Chicago. An Associated Press interview conducted the following year referred to her Wisconsin home. The available reporting does not provide a detailed residential history, but it documents her continued connection with the wider region.
Her Leadership of the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund
Federal nonprofit filings identify Joy Piccolo O’Connell as president of the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund. The reviewed records cover multiple fiscal years and list no compensation for her position. That information relates specifically to her nonprofit role and does not provide a basis for estimating her personal finances.
The fund was established following Brian’s death. According to the Chicago Bears, the fund initially directed money toward research at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Brian had received treatment in New York after his cancer diagnosis, making the institution part of the history behind the fund’s original direction.
The organization later shifted part of its attention to cancer research at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Bears reporting has also connected the fund with Clearbrook, which serves people with developmental disabilities.
Its work has developed through relationships with other charitable organizations as well. The Gavers Community Cancer Foundation traces its collaboration with the Piccolo Fund back to 2001. According to the foundation, Joy and other people connected with the fund had supported Steve Gavers as he navigated a cancer diagnosis and early treatment. According to Gavers, its contributions to the Piccolo Fund for breast cancer research have exceeded $1 million.
Official reports have presented different fundraising figures depending on which organizations and contributions were included. A 2022 Bears account said the fund had raised nearly $9.9 million since 1991. In 2024, the team reported more than $16 million with support from the Bears, NFL Foundation, Wake Forest University, the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation and additional donors. Reporting published in 2026 placed the fund’s total fundraising above $10 million. The broader $16 million total explicitly includes partner support, so the figures represent different scopes rather than one consistent accounting measure.
Her Daughters Share Responsibility for the Fund
Official records indicate that Brian Piccolo’s family shares responsibility for the research fund. Federal nonprofit filings have listed Lori Piccolo and Kristi Piccolo as directors. Their sister, Traci Piccolo Dolby, has been listed as secretary and treasurer.
These records place all three of Joy and Brian’s daughters within the fund’s organizational structure. Joy’s position as president therefore exists alongside defined responsibilities held by the next generation of the family.
The leadership titles have appeared across multiple filing periods, although nonprofit roles can change between reports. The institutional records nevertheless provide stronger evidence of family participation than public appearances alone. Lori, Traci and Kristi have not simply attended ceremonies in their father’s memory; they have held formal roles within the organization associated with his name.
Joy’s Perspective on Brian’s Continuing Legacy
Joy has occasionally offered first-hand context about the public story surrounding Brian. Speaking with the Associated Press in September 2020, she expressed surprise that people remained interested approximately 50 years after his death. She noted that renewed public attention could lead to inquiries through the Piccolo Foundation.
She also described the contrasting personalities of Brian and his Bears teammate Gale Sayers. Joy remembered Brian as someone who enjoyed being around people, talking and speaking publicly. Sayers, by comparison, was extremely quiet.
In a separate statement reported by The Washington Post, Joy said the friendship represented only a small part of Brian’s life, without disputing that the relationship was genuine.
Joy’s remarks place the widely known friendship within Brian’s broader history. She also said renewed public attention could generate inquiries through the Piccolo Foundation.
Her Continuing Connection With the Chicago Bears
Joy has maintained a documented relationship with the Bears through ceremonies and commemorative events. On June 16, 2022, the 52nd anniversary of Brian’s death, the team welcomed nearly 20 members of the Piccolo family to its final minicamp practice.
Every player on the roster wore Brian’s No. 41 jersey during the tribute. Joy attended with Lori, Traci and Kristi. She told the Bears that seeing the entire roster wearing the number overwhelmed her and meant a great deal to the family.
Plans to commemorate 50 years since Brian’s death in 2020 were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic until 2022. When the family was eventually able to attend, the event brought Joy and all three daughters together with the organization that had shaped Brian’s professional years.
Her participation continued after that tribute. Official team coverage documented Joy and Traci at the 2024 Brian Piccolo Award ceremony. In April 2026, Joy attended again, this time alongside Traci and Kristi.
The award is presented to Bears players who represent qualities associated with Brian, including courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and humor. Joy’s presence at these ceremonies connects the family, the cancer-research fund and the Bears’ continuing recognition of Brian.
Joy Murrath’s Documented Public Contribution
The reliable record of Joy Murrath is centered on a clear body of public work. Federal nonprofit filings identify her as president of the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, while official records document the fund’s institutional partnerships and leadership roles held by her three daughters.
Her decision to stay near Chicago after Brian’s death helped preserve the family’s connection with the city and the Bears. Decades later, that relationship remains visible through official ceremonies, family participation and the organization’s continuing charitable work.
Institutional filings identify Joy as the fund’s president, official Bears accounts document her continuing participation in commemorative events, and her own statements provide context about the legacy associated with Brian’s memory.