2015 Creative Cups

Kim Venutolo

Safe at Home

My creation was inspired for my mother-in-law, Irene Venutolo, who was one of the NY Yankees’ biggest fans. Mama, as I called her, passed away of breast cancer in August 2005 and her last words to her son Michael, my husband, were, “Did the Yankees win?” I’m sure that some people would find that odd as someone’s last words, however, if they knew Mama they understood. From DiMaggio, Ford, Mantle, Maris and Pepitone (who was one of her favorites) to Munson, O’Neil, Posada and, of course, Derek Jeter, who takes center stage on this bra, Mama knew all the stats, ERAs, BAs - OBPs and all the other important information about the players. She would give stern advice to Billy Martin and Joe Torre through the TV such as when to send in a pinch hitter or to get a left hander busy in the bull pen. She loved the game and she loved the Yankees.

She also loved her faith and her family, which is why she kept her cancer from all of us until it was no longer possible to hide. When we arrived at the hospital it was to our shock that she was in the last stages of her disease and how well she kept it from us. She had often said that if she got ill she never wanted to burden us because she had a good life and the Lord would know when it was her time.

Irene Venutolo, my Mama was an incredible woman whom is now Safe at Home.