Story perspectives

Susan Saint James Dies at 80 From Pancreatic Cancer

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 22:51 UTC · How we work

Read the story

Story summary

Summary

Susan Saint James died at 80 from pancreatic cancer on Oct 26, 2026.
She is survived by husband NBC executive Dick Ebersol, four children, and seven grandchildren.
James won a 1969 Emmy for supporting actress on The Name of the Game.
She served on the Special Olympics board and chaired its Connecticut campaign.

History

Anne McGlone Burke proposed a citywide track meet in 1967; Eunice Kennedy Shriver funded it, and on July 20 1968 the first Special Olympics opened at Chicago’s Soldier Field with about 1,000 athletes from the U.S., Canada and France. The movement grew to serve over 5 million participants worldwide, and actress Susan Saint James, who chaired Connecticut’s campaign, died in 2026.

1 of 2

Historical Context

Anne McGlone Burke proposed a citywide track meet in 1967; Eunice Kennedy Shriver funded it, and on July 20 1968 the first Special Olympics opened at Chicago’s Soldier Field with about 1,000 athletes from the U.S., Canada and France. The movement grew to serve over 5 million participants worldwide, and actress Susan Saint James, who chaired Connecticut’s campaign, died in 2026.

1 / 2