Jersey Retirement
On September 8, the Northeastern University women’s soccer team retired Jackie Spellman’s No. 14 jersey before its match against Ohio State. She became the first female student-athlete at Northeastern to receive this distinction. Only four athletes had received the honor before her: Sean Jones in football, Reggie Lewis in men’s basketball, Greg Montalbano in baseball, and Dan Ross in football.
Northeastern Soccer Career
Jackie Spellman played for Northeastern from 2002 to 2005. By the end of her collegiate career, she had appeared in 78 games, setting a program record at the time. During her junior year, she contributed to a program-best 12 victories. Teammates recalled her consistent energy during training sessions and matches, as well as her humor, which lightened the atmosphere. She often approached practice with the same intensity as competition and encouraged those around her to stay engaged.
Early Life and Education
Originally from Wethersfield, Connecticut, Jackie captained both the soccer and basketball teams in high school. She chose Northeastern because of its academics and the opportunity to play Division I soccer in Boston. After graduating with honors in 2007, she began working in professional sports marketing. She later joined the Houston Texans’ marketing group. While living in Houston, she remained connected to the game by joining a women’s league and coaching a youth team.
Illness and Passing
Shortly after her move, she developed symptoms that led to a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow. She underwent treatment for 14 months before passing away in April 2009 at the age of 25.
Legacy
In 2009, the Jackie Spellman Scholarship Foundation was established in her memory. For twelve years, the foundation awarded scholarships to students whose lives had been affected by leukemia or lymphoma. Through these scholarships, the foundation recognized Jackie’s legacy by supporting education and strengthening community awareness of blood cancers.
