| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1941-08-01)August 1, 1941 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | March 24, 2025(2025-03-24) (aged 83) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | Boston University Hofstra University Villanova University School of Law |
| Career history | |
| |
Susan Tose Spencer (August 1, 1941 – March 24, 2025) was an American businesswoman and lawyer who was vice president of thePhiladelphia Eagles.
Born inNewark, New Jersey, on August 1, 1941,[1] Spencer was one of two daughters ofLeonard Tose and his first wife, Jayne Esther Orensten (1919–2012).[2] After graduating fromBoston University, Spencer married Ira Schneider, who worked in public relations. They had one daughter.[3] Spencer earned aMaster's degree in Education/Economics fromHofstra University and spent five years as a junior high school teacher inEast Meadow, New York.[3][4] In 1971, following her divorce from Schneider, Spencer moved toLighthouse Point, Florida, where she started a business designing, manufacturing, and selling tennis dresses. The business ended due to a disagreement between Spencer and her business partner Dennis Kalodish.[3]
At the age of 35, Spencer, who had married sporting-goods salesman Harold Fletcher, began attendingVillanova University School of Law. While a student she also served as a paralegal forJoseph Alioto, who was representing her father in an antitrust lawsuit. After graduating she joined the firm of Astor, Weiss, and Newman and served as a legal counsel for the Philadelphia Eagles, which were owned by her father. Spencer advised the team on stadium leases, grievances, arbitration cases, and the structuring of player contracts and represented the organization before thePhiladelphia City Council during public hearings regarding the city's lease with thePhiladelphia Stars of the rivalUnited States Football League.[2] In 1982 she was promoted to vice president.[3]
The1982 NFL strike cost the Eagles revenue from seven games and placed the team in a difficult financial situation. Shortly after the season ended, Spencer took over the day-to-day operations of the team.[5] She worked to cut expenses in an effort to make the team more appealing to potential minority partners (The club had $33 million in liabilities and Tose personally owed creditors $9.1 million).[3][5] Cost-saving measures introduced by Spencer included installing atime clock, eliminating the media's pregame buffet and the steak and seafood Monday afternoon brunch, and replacing the team's jumbo jet with a smaller plane.[5][6] She also dismissed a number of longtime employees, including general managerJim Murray, business manager Jim Borden, sales and marketing director Sam Procopio, assistant ticket manager Bob Ellis, secretary Gertrude Kelly, and Barbara Meindl who oversaw the Eagle's charitable fundraising.[3][5] Spencer inherited Murray's duties as general manager, although head coachMarion Campbell oversaw football operations.[2]
On June 17, 1983, Tose signed an agreement to sell the team to a group led by Louis Guida that also included Spencer, Ira Lampert, Dr. Julius Newman, andSandra Schultz Newman.[7] Tose backed out of the deal in order to get a higher price fromEd Snider. However, Guida's group was able to secure a restraining order on Tose and Spencer that prevented them from making any financial deals affecting the Eagles as well as an injunction that forced them to negotiate with Guida's group on sale agreement.[3] The parties were unable to reach an agreement and Tose paid a $1.75 million settlement which allowed him to retain ownership of the Eagles.[8] The Eagles finished the1983 season with a 5–11 record.[9]
Prior to the1984 season, the Eagles tradedCarl Hairston andFrank LeMaster and let go ofGuy Morriss in what were seen as cost-cutting moves. However, Spencer also negotiated large contracts withKenny Jackson,Ray Ellis, andGreg Brown.[10][11] The 1984 season was the Eagles' first profitable season in many years, although the profit was only $200,000.[6] That December, Tose considered moving the Eagles toPhoenix, Arizona as a condition of a sale of a minority share of the team to Canadian businessman James Monaghan.[12][13] Philadelphia MayorWilson Goode was able to reach an agreement with Spencer to keep the team in Philadelphia long-term.[14]
In February 1985,Harry Gamble, who had served as administrative assistant for coaching and player personnel and director of football administration following the firing of Jim Murray, was promoted to general manager.[15] Two months later the Eagles were sold to Miami car dealerNorman Braman.[11] As part of the sale, Spencer was to stay with the Eagles as an assistant to Gamble, however she chose to resign on May 1, 1985, two days after the sale became final.[16]
After leaving the NFL, she married her third husband, Bob Spencer, who predeceased her after 26 years of marriage. She went into the meat processing business,[4] working as a meat commodities trader, small-business consultant, and lecturer. She also hosted an internet radio show and authored a business self-help book for women.[17] She lived inLas Vegas to be near her mother.[6]
In 2018, she was diagnosed withAlzheimer's disease and moved toNorth Carolina to be closer to her daughter.[18] On March 24, 2025, she died due to complications from Alzhhimer's disease at the age of 83 at an assisted care facility inCharlotte, North Carolina.[19]