Two Minutes With…Jennifer Brusstar

President and CEO, Tug McGraw Foundation

-By Brian Hickey

When Tug McGraw left Philadelphia to spend his final days at his son Tim's cabin in Tennessee, Jennifer Brusstar, wife of his old Phillies teammate Warren, was by his side. Two years later, Jennifer is heading the Tug McGraw Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing brain-cancer research and public awareness. On Nov. 3, they'll host An Evening With Tim McGraw & Friends fundraiser at the Crystal Tea Room, which will include a Texas Hold 'Em tournament. Also, Tim, a country star who sported his pop's 1980 World Series ring at a concert here last week, is expected to perform. (For information, go to www.tugmcgraw.org.) We caught up with Brusstar at Citizens Bank Park after the Phillies presented Tim and Jennifer with a $34,000 donation before the game.

City Paper: This must be personal for you.

Jennifer Brusstar: It is. Tug and my husband were so close I could have collected alimony by the end! Everybody always talks about Tug's legacy in baseball, and we were talking about it one day near the end. I told him that his work really went beyond baseball, that what he did was put a face to this disease. [In the 10 months between Tug's diagnosis and death], everybody would see him and they wouldn't think anything was wrong, that he was OK, and as vibrant as he always was, but they couldn't see what was really happening to him.

CP: What are the challenges you face in getting word out about brain cancer?

JB: Not too many. We've sold a million dollars worth of our [Tug McGraw] bracelets so far, and so many people are excited to get involved. But this is the number-one killer for children, and the government funding can't keep doctors in the field. We need to keep getting young [medical] students in the field, and keep them there. We're not just looking for a cure; we want to help with [victims'] quality of life until we find a cure.

CP: It must help having Tim involved to raise awareness.

JB: Oh, he's great. Just like his father, he gives a lot of himself to charity.