Alabama is heading into a new era of college football this weekend under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, but the man who brought the program back almost 20 years ago, head coach Nick Saban, lost one of the most important people in his life that helped shaped him into the person, husband, father, and coach that he is today.
Alabama’s Nick Saban’s Mother Sadly Passes Away At 92
A report came out late Thursday night that Saban’s mother, Ruth Mary Saban Pasko, passed away at the age of 92.
According to Mike Rodak of 247sports.com, The Tuscaloosa News published Pasko’s obituary late Thursday night, discussing how incredible a woman she was.
Ruth Mary Saban Pasko, 92, was born on July 29, 1932 in Michigan, but spent most of her life in the small town of Farmington, West Virginia. Mary was the daughter of Jane & Harry Conaway. She was a high school cheerleader and a majorette at Farmington High School where she met and married Nick Saban, a baseball standout who later started Pop Warner football in the area along with Willie Criado.
Nick and Mary owned and operated Saban Gulf Service Station and the adjacent restaurant and Dairy King serving the Carolina, Monongah, Farmington and Fairmont areas. Mary supported the Pop Warner Black Diamond Football team, working concessions and decorating the bus which Nick, Sr. drove to pick up the boys from all the small inaccessible areas in the hills of West Virginia while both of their children participated – Dene a cheerleader who according to Nick was the better athlete, and Nick Jr. “Brother” as the quarterback.
Mary, along with Nick, Sr.’s mother, Anna and her three daughters, Aunt Mary, Aunt Katie and Aunt Joanne, rarely missed a game from the Pop Warner days through high school and college. Mary was very close to her sister, Fran Popovich and husband Sid, who were also loyal supporters over the years, including Alabama Football.
Besides being an avid sports fan, Mary was a skilled seamstress, making many of her grandchildren’s clothes as well as her wedding gown. She was employed by CB&T Bank in Fairmont for many years and after being widowed she worked for the West Virginia Secretary of State Department for over 20 years. Later in life she married Bobby Pasko after rekindling a friendship at a high school reunion. They both enjoyed golf, dancing, and following football. After Bobby passed, Mary took up residence at Danberry Retirement Community in Birmingham.
She is survived by her children, Dene (Leroy) Thompson and Nick (Terry) Saban; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Also, surviving sisters Fran (Sid) Popovich and Ginger Hill.
Proceeded in death by sister Bobby Jane Parrish, husband Nick Saban, husband Bobby Pasko, parents Jane and Harry Conaway.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider donating to Nick’s Kids Foundation at nickskidsfoundation.org or by mail at 1130 University Blvd. Ste. B9-201, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
Arrangements by
Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral Home & Crematory
Nick Saban’s mother had some great stories, and one of the best ones was from Brett McMurphy from the Action Network. He shared that Saban told him that once, during practice, his mother called him to tell him that she had made a hole in one of the golf course and bragged to Nick because he had never made one.
Nick Saban’s 92-year-old mother Mary passed away. Last year, Saban shared w/me this hysterical story when she called, demanding to talk to him – during a Bama practice pic.twitter.com/hmVeQNGqKv
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 30, 2024
“She says, ‘Brother’ — everyone from West Virginia calls each other ‘brother’ — ‘Brother, I just wanted to let you know I just made a hole-in-one and you’ve never made one,'” Saban said. “Yes, she really called me during practice to tell me she made a hole-in-one.”
Thoughts and prayers are with Coach Saban and his entire family through this difficult time.
