It was an emotional day at Yankee Stadium on Friday, as the Yankees honored the memory of Cathy Tusiani, the wife of the team’s senior vice president of partnerships, Michael Tusiani.
Prior to the game, Aaron Boone became emotional while speaking about Cathy Tusiani, who died when her car was hit by a falling tree during a storm on Wednesday in Armonk.
As he wrapped up his pregame press conference, Boone talked about the Tusianis and became choked up and had to pause several times before becoming overcome with emotion.
“I just want to say real quick: with all the excitement of Opening Day, we get reminded all the time of the perspective,” Boone said. “At the end of the day, this is our livelihood, it really matters, but it is just a game. Our family, our Yankee family… [have] heavy hearts today. As you know, Michael Tusiani lost his wife, Cathy. So we’ll be playing for them today and all season.”
The Yankees also honored Cathy Tusiani with a moment of silence before the game. Tusiani, a mother of two, was 50.