I grew up in Dallas in the 1980s and was a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan. January 10, 1982, remains unforgettable. Late in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys led the 49ers 27–21 in the conference championship. With less than a minute left, Dwight Clark made The Catch over Everson Walls to win the game. I was crushed and stayed upset for days.

Though I’ve lived in the Bay Area for twenty years and now root for the 49ers, it’s still hard to watch clips of The Catch. Over time, hearing interviews with and about Dwight Clark showed me what a remarkable person he was. I may hate that play, but I cannot hate the man. That’s why I was heartbroken by the news that Clark died at 61 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease.

The ALS Association’s Golden West Chapter was contacted by every Bay Area TV station about his passing. In a KTVU segment, reporter Deborah Villalon explained Clark’s impact on ALS advocates who often feel unseen:

“To the ALS community, he is a hero for raising awareness in the very public way he faced the disease. Clark faced the illness head‑on, speaking publicly about his challenges and even appearing on the big screen at Levi’s Stadium to thank fans.”

At CIRM, we fund two clinical trials run by Cedars-Sinai and BrainStorm Cell Therapeuticsthat test stem cell‑based ALS treatments. In Clark’s memory, and for everyone affected by ALS, we hope these trials lead to new options for the 5,000 people diagnosed each year in the U.S.

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