Memorial Service on March 17, 2007
From Chris Baldassarre, the niece of Carmina, “Connie” Meairs’:
“I regret to inform you of Mrs. Carmina “Connie” Meairs passing on Thursday, February 15, 2007. Connie was residing in Boulder City Nevada with her sister Mary Jones and family since the death of her beloved husband Red. You may recall, Connie’s husband Irvin “Red” Meairs passed on in June of 2002.
There will be a Memorial Service held for Carmina on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 11:00 am at the Mid-Cities Baptist Church in Westminster, California. ”
(Photo by Bob Otto)
Editor’s note: Connie Meairs was the wife of Irvin “Red” Meairs, longtime Long Beach Nitehawks player, manager, owner, sponsor. Many who grew up in Long Beach, California, fondly recall Connie and Red as the foundation of men’s fastpitch in Southern California.
The Long Beach Nitehawks won a record ten (10) ISC World Tournament titles, the last in 1975 in Kimberly, Wisconsin. Red and Connie were the backbone of the Nitehawks, pouring their passion and hard work into the Nitehawks franchise, and financing the operation of the team. While Red was on the field, it was Connie who ran the concession stand at Joe Rodgers Field in Long Beach, virtually every night of the week. It wasn’t only when the Nitehawks played, but all through the week, when city league teams were playing, with the money going right back into the program.
I was fortunate to be among those city league players playing at Joe Rodgers during the week. Other than my own mother, Connie probably made dinner for me more than anyone in those days, hot dogs, chili, or what have you. You could always catch her smiling face as you headed towards the concession stand. You could always see her love of Red and support for him and the team they both loved so dearly. Anyone who played or watched fastpitch at Joe Rodgers Field, in Long Beach will recall that aqua-colored Chevy Nova of Red and Connie, parked just outside the entrance, and usually full of ball gear, deBeer 212’s and boxes of items for the concession stand. Anyone who visited their home will recall Red and Connie’s room full of trophies collected over the years.
From Hall of Fame Nitehawks pitcher Bob Todd:
Connie is “Red’s greatest love,†said Todd of Red’s wife. “She worked as hard for the Hawks as anybody. She put in so many hours in the concession stand without complaining. Connie should be in the wife’s Hall of Fame.â€
After the Nitehawks shuttered operations in the 1980’s, Red and Connie were still mainstays in Long Beach, supporting its sports programs, whether it was Long Beach State or the high school kids at Blair Field, or in the gym at Long Beach State basketball games. They were a couple, married forever, and a team within the team. Above all, gracious, classy, and and indefatigable. Connie will be missed, but she and Red are together again. Of that I am sure.
An earlier story about about Connie and Red: