[dropcap]On[/dropcap] Monday, Creighton lost one of its’ biggest and best fans when Mary Ann Filippi — better known as “Dancing Grandma” to legions of Bluejay faithful — passed away at age 92. Her late husband John, who graduated from Creighton’s dental school in the 1940’s, got her hooked on Bluejay basketball and she was a staple at their games for many years.
She became a local celebrity after the Jays moved to the CenturyLink (née Qwest) Center in 2003; the arena’s video boards offer temporary stardom to numerous fans each game, though from her very first appearance, it was clear there was something different about Filippi and the reaction she got from the crowd. She soon became a favorite target of the arena’s cameras, and after she did the “Raise the Roof” sign with her arms during one appearance — a suggestion from one of her grandsons, according to a 2011 article in the Omaha World-Herald — Filippi cemented her iconic status as “Dancing Grandma” and had been a staple of the gameday experience ever since.
Yes, iconic.
Over the years, she appeared in several pre-taped video segments to pump up the crowd, served as a guest judge in the Slam Dunk Contest at Bluejay Madness, appeared on ESPN during multiple telecasts, posed for countless photos with players and fans, was turned into an animated GIF and ranked #16 on a 2014 Buzzfeed list of “Reasons Why You’re About to Fall In Love with the Creighton Bluejays”, and even has a section devoted to her under “Gameday Traditions” on the Creighton Basketball Wikipedia page. (True story.)
One of those videos was a Monty-Python style riff on “Gangnam Style”:
While another featured then-point guard Antoine Young dribbling faster and faster to get the crowd clapping in unison during a timeout…followed by unexpected orders to “Make some noise!” by Filippi at the end:
And who can forget her appearance at the end of this one?
Upon news of her passing, head coach Greg McDermott tweeted, “We lost a wonderful woman today. Blessed to call her my friend. #RIP”. It’s a sentiment shared by Creighton fans everywhere; here’s some of the outpouring of support they’ve shared on Twitter on Monday:
Our Timeline is filled with memories of a grandma who danced and raised the roof on the video board. Sports really are the best.
— FakeBlueCrew (@FakeBlueCrew) September 28, 2015
A Creighton legend who will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace Dancing Gma https://t.co/ccWKdyJkg5 — Grant Gibbs (@DoubleGfor3) September 28, 2015
Rest in peace, forever “raising the roof” at the jays games. https://t.co/bNAqIvPiJN
— Will Artino (@WillArtino31) September 28, 2015
Extremely saddened by this news. Her energy was infectious, and truly appreciated by the fans and players. RIP! https://t.co/MgiiGsdiQi — Jahenns Manigat (@JManigat12) September 28, 2015
Rest in peace to the greatest Creighton fan in history. You’ll be missed, Dancin’ Grandma. https://t.co/m9OXu2MEIY
— Ryan Holmgren (@ryanholmgren) September 28, 2015
No offense to anyone else in those seats, but Creighton lost one of its biggest & best fans today. R.I.P. Mary Ann. https://t.co/QZqEmOWaQT — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) September 28, 2015
RIP dancing grandma 🙁 pic.twitter.com/Ord9lTxhDS
— Andrew Hoover (@ahoover17_) September 28, 2015
Most knew Mrs Filippi as “Dancing Grandma,” but we will never forget her passion for @BluejayMBB & raising the roof. https://t.co/Cxv5MYr64e — DC Creighton Alumni (@DCCreightonAlum) September 28, 2015
I aspire to be a “Dancing Grandma” in years to come. What a shining example of @Creighton spirit. http://t.co/dh8j3lYioy cc: @gocreighton
— ellie (@miss_ellen) September 28, 2015
Bet she’s teaching St Peter to raise the roof & leading a choir of angels in the fight song. Miss ya Dancing Grandma https://t.co/JEXkwckOA4 — Rob Placek (@robplacek) September 28, 2015
RIP #DancingGrandma I hope that when I’m in my 90s I’ll be as cool as you were. #GOAT
— linh nguyen (@iamlinhn) September 28, 2015
Too bad. Always enjoyed seeing dancing Grandma on the Jumbo Screen at Creighton games. She was a sweetheart. https://t.co/8hYvrhYVRI — Kurt Owens (@Kurtowens) September 28, 2015
Heard from Twitter that the dancing grandma at the Creighton games has died. Will miss her enthusiasm for the Jays. pic.twitter.com/8N0OZagya4
— Will Schademann (@WillSchademann) September 28, 2015
RIP to #DancingGrandma – a fixture at @gocreighton basketball games. http://t.co/iGGwgybDIZ — Brad Ashford (@RepBradAshford) September 28, 2015
@wildjays from my days as a camera guy the video dept would wait until the perfect moment to show her on the screen. It was sacred to them
— Doug Wright (@dwoverdrive) September 28, 2015
@wildjays In the vid she wanted her Jays to “make the run” in the NCAAs – dedicate and do it – for MAF (Grandma). — gtmoBlue (@gtmoBlue) September 28, 2015
@wildjays Hope they have a tribute to her this year at one of the games. Great fan and always got the crowd going when we needed it.
— Nathan Wilson (@nathan_a_wilson) September 28, 2015
@wildjays She will be greatly missed. She is an always will be a legend. #RIPDancinGrandma — Andrew Rommelfanger (@DJ_ROMM) September 28, 2015
Sports needs more fans like Creighton’s Dancing Grandma – have fun, laugh at yourself, relax. RIP Mrs. Filippi http://t.co/ZoUMt8rcnP
— kurth (@kuabatty) September 28, 2015
Filippi’s late husband John passed away in 1996; she is survived by her three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.
*****
In 2011, NET produced a short feature on Filippi that aired during halftime of a Bluejay game, and we can think of no better way to remember Mary Ann Filippi than by letting her tell the story in her own words.
Rest in peace, “Dancing Grandma.”