Orioles Dir of PR MONICA BARLOW, who had "worked full-time in the Orioles front office" since '01, died Friday morning from lung cancer at the age of 36, according to Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore SUN. Barlow in '99 "started out with the Orioles as a front office intern and then worked about a year" for the Triple-A Int’l League Richmond Braves. She returned to the Orioles in '01 as a PR assistant "before being named to replace" former Dir of PR BILL STETKA in '08. She was "diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer" in September '09, but "continued to lead the department until taking a leave of absence in early February." Barlow throughout her illness "campaigned on behalf of lung cancer research as a speaker and fundraiser for LUNGevity Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization focused on the disease." Though her prognosis was "never positive," those who worked with Barlow "marveled at her upbeat attitude during a grueling series of treatment programs and her commitment to her co-workers and the team." Orioles manager BUCK SHOWALTER on Friday said, "We lost a feather from the Oriole today. Monica embodied everything we strive to be about. Her passion, loyalty, and tenacity set a great example for everyone in the organization" (Baltimore SUN, 3/1).
PAYING TRIBUTE: In Baltimore, Eduardo Encina noted several Orioles players "chose to honor" Barlow during Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, wearing armbands inscribed with Barlow's initials. Showalter: "Everybody was thinking about her today." Orioles 1B CHRIS DAVIS said that he would "like to see the club honor Barlow with a uniform patch or with something on their hats or helmets for the upcoming season" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 3/1). Encina wrote of Barlow, "Even though she never wore a uniform and did most of her work behind the scenes, she epitomized everything we know that defines 'The Oriole Way.'" Barlow "left such an amazing legacy by impacting everyone she came in contact with. We will all miss her" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 3/2).
