PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – I went back and found this story from a couple of months ago. Truly we were all blessed to have known him as people. We were blessed as a city to have him as an ambassador.
Maybe the greatest word you can say about Tunch Ilkin are the words that aren’t said. You would be hard pressed to find a single negative thing to say about the man or find anyone, even an opponent, who had contempt for him.
Tunch not only was a great example as a professional athlete, but a great example of a man.
When hardship hit, most notably the loss of his wife at a young age, he did not seek your sympathy. Although he would kindly accept it. More times than not at the end of the conversation, he would ask how you are doing.
I had the pleasure of broadcasting next to him at Steelers camp over 100 times. Never was the man in a bad mood. He would always ask if we needed anything when he would go back inside the dorm. There would be small conversations during commercial breaks, normally having nothing to do with football.
Late in the afternoon, Tunch would come back up the hill from practice to the media area and join his longtime friend Craig Wolfley for an early evening cigar. I would still be working at that time, but wondered what those conversations were like.
People would go out of their way to stop by to see him, because all love Tunch and understandably so.
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Talk about God
Some may not know that Tunch is also a minister and leads discussions about faith at his church and during his work with the Light of Life Mission. He would never force it on you, but once I wanted to discuss it with him.
We must have walked for 45 minutes and engaged on a wide range of topics, but mostly dealt with reaching young people. He can quote scripture off the top of his head and then break it down to the relevance of your life. I’ll never forgot after heading to my car following the discussion thinking this hulking man, still in tremendous shape, was paid to maul the person in front of him, yet had a compassion of a 140 pound priest.
Fun Fest
The event of the summer in Mercer County, where I grew up, was the Bavarian Fun Fest. It was a week of music, games and beer. A few years ago Tunch was the toastmaster, I believe that’s what it was called. He came up for the afternoon as the day’s big celebrity. Anytime a current or former Steeler attended, it drew crowds.
I waited to say hi to him as he graciously talked to every fan, posed for every picture for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually the line died down and I introduced him to my father. Ironically my dad hated the media, so I really never knew how much he understood what I do.
Tunch went on for over five minutes telling my father nice things about me. I should have paid him for it. Explaining how we know each other and currently work together in the same field. Although I am not in his class.
I could see the pride in my father’s eyes as he went on.
That is Tunch Ilkin. It’s rarely about him, it’s about helping someone else. His opinions on the Steelers broadcasts were never to make a name for himself. He called it as it lied and offered advice to any player that wanted it.
As Tunch heads into retirement with another battle on his hands. I think of the man, and how fortunate we all are to have him a part of our lives. I hope we are all wise enough to learn from his example.