Friend’s prodding led Bruce to life-saving heart surgery

Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Bill Rabinowitz

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Earle Bruce felt fine. He had no shortness of breath or any other symptom that might indicate a heart problem.

But a friend who worked at a wellness center kept urging the former Ohio State football coach to get his heart checked.

Bruce resisted for a while, then finally relented. It was a wise decision. A heart scan indicated blockage. After additional tests confirmed the problem, he had open-heart surgery April 18.

The quadruple bypass was a success and Bruce, 74, is making a smooth recovery. If followup exams go well, Bruce and his wife, Jean, plan to travel to their Florida home in 20 weeks.

"Ever since I’ve come home, I’ve gotten better and better," Bruce said.

He credits WBNS-TV sportscaster Dom Tiberi and Tiberi’s wife, Terri, for pushing him to get the test. She is education coordinator at the PrevaHealth Wellness and Diagnostic Center in Dublin.

"His daughters have been driving him crazy to get it done for so long and he wouldn’t do it," Terri Tiberi said. "I knew he needed it done and we’re close to the family.

"I didn’t think I’d ever get through to him. It took awhile, but he said he’d do it."

Even Bruce isn’t sure why he finally agreed.

"I guess when it’s over and done with, it’s a blessing in disguise," said Bruce, who coached the Arena Football League’s Columbus Destroyers last year.

Because he had no outward symptoms of heart trouble, Bruce at first questioned the need for an operation.

"The nurse said, ‘What are you talking about? In 50 percent of heart attacks, there are no symptoms, but they’re dead,’ " Bruce said. "So doing what I did gives me a greater chance that I wouldn’t have that fatal heart attack.

"I’m a good example of that guy who could be walking down the street (and die suddenly)."

Bruce coached Ohio State from 1979 to 1987. His teams went 81-26-1. Two years ago, Bruce was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

He coached the Destroyers to a 6-10 record last season and now has the title vice president of football operations, though said his day-to-day involvement with the team is minimal.

"I’m just glad I could help out a friend," Terri Tiberi said. "Thank God he’s still around because he’s a great man, and I care a lot about him and his family."

More about the Earle Bruce story.  June 2005