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Constance “Connie” (Marx) Gicewicz, a longtime loyal supporter of UB Athletics, passed away peacefully at her Amherst home on July 5 at the age of 93.

Born Nov. 17, 1932, in Bayside, Queens, New York, Connie met the love of her life at UB, where she was crowned homecoming queen and earned her nursing degree. She married Dr. Edmond Gicewicz on Aug. 30, 1953, and together they shared nearly 65 years of marriage and a lifetime of devotion to family and to the Western New York community.

Longtime generous supporters of UB, their name lives on in the UB Athletics Hall of Fame and the Gicewicz Club at Broadview Stadium. Connie was often seen cheering at Bulls basketball games and other events featuring UB athletes well into her late 80s.

“For six decades, Connie, alongside her husband Edmond ‘Doc’ Gicewicz, embodied the very best of what it means to be lifelong champions of UB,” says Kathleen Heckman, UB vice president for advancement. “Through their philanthropy, they opened doors for countless students, leaving a legacy that will shape futures for generations.

“Connie’s presence on campus was as steadfast as it was joyful. Whether cheering on the Bulls with pride, celebrating the achievements of students or quietly supporting the university’s mission, she did so with a gracious spirit that drew others in,” Heckman adds. “Together, she and Doc created a legacy rooted in both deep affection for UB and a sincere desire to ensure others might experience the same opportunities that meant so much to them. Their legacy lives on through the opportunities they created for students, a reflection of their enduring commitment to investing in what matters most: people and possibility.”

A former Buffalo General Hospital nurse, Connie also supported women's organizations at UB and taught English to prisoners as a volunteer at the Erie County Holding Center.

Connie adored her husband and her family. A mother of five with spunk like no other, she took command of any room she entered and was fiercely proud of her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edmond, in 2018. She is survived by her children: Suzanne (Lambros) Touris of Buffalo; Julie Butler of Stockton, California; Alicia (Patrick) Bryant of Golden, Colorado; Richard (Julie) Gicewicz of Orchard Park; and Gregory (Dorothea) Gicewicz of Gallatin, Tennessee; and by her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Connie’s memory to the School of Nursing Scholarship Fund at UB  or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.