Ex Honey Bears keep sisterhood going
HUNTLEY – Lynnann Holdapfel led the Crystal Lake South cheerleaders to the conclusion of another practice on an early-season Tuesday evening.
Fellow former Honey Bears cheerleader Patti Gramarossa joined Holdapfel to make the practice more of a reunion for the Bears’ former ambassadors.
“It’s a sisterhood,” Gramarossa said.
One Gators cheerleader, Mackenzie Kirkpatrick, answered correctly when the Honey Bears’ era took place, the 1977-85 seasons.
“I hope they bring them back – that’s my life’s goal, to be a Honey Bear,” Kirkpatrick, a junior, said.
The Honey Bears tenure began in 1977, as an idea of then General Manager Jim Finks and the support of owner George Halas. It ended just after the team’s Super Bowl XX victory, 46-10 over New England, on Jan. 26, 1986 in New Orleans.
Tena Okeefe of Crystal Lake cheered at Soldier Field in the last two years of the team, 1984 and 1985, while Holdapfel was on the final squad in 1985. Gramarossa cheered in 1979-80.
Holdapfel, a Lake in the Hills resident, described the selection process to become a Honey Bear.
“There were 6,000 girls who put in applications. They chose 3,000 to come in, line up and smile, and they asked us a couple of questions. Team players, celebrities and Honey Bears Coach Cathy Core did the judging. It was very intense. With about 200 applicants left, we came in and learned a dance routine to “Bear Down.” I was 20-years old, and it was unbelievable,” Holdapfel said.
The cheerleaders marveled at the success Walter Payton, Steve McMichael, Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary and other stars brought to the 15-1 season. The Bears won 12 straight regular season games to challenge the undfeated season of Miami in 1972. That was until the lone loss to the Dolphins in December.
Promotions were a big part of the duties of the Honey Bears, who danced as “Super Bowl Shuffle” was played.
“It would be sub-freezing and cold and we would be out there in our warm-up suits,” Okeefe, of Crystal Lake, said.
The group’s highlight was a halftime performance at Super Bowl XX in New Orleans, right along with the main act, “Up With People.”
“We performed a routine to ‘Baby I’m a Star’ by Prince. It was very intense. Then afterward, they ushered us off stage, and we received a box with the NFL logo, which contained our lunch, I still have the box,” Okeefe said.
The year was a bittersweet ending as new team owner Virginia Halas McCaskey did not renew the Honey Bears’ contract after their only road trip with the team to New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
Holdapfel went on to have a long cheer and dance career. She coached cheerleading at Huntley Park District, Elgin High School as well as All Star Dance, and CheerAbilities, for cheerleaders with special needs. She works in medical sales.
Okeefe recalled her make-the-team experience back in 1984, going for one of the spots for newcomers.
“It was harder than I thought. I was just a girl from the suburbs, and these girls were so glamorous. I thought I did not make the team. But then I got a call at work from Honey Bears Coach Cathy Core. She said that one of the veterans was pregnant. I said, ‘should I throw her a baby shower’. Core then said there was an opening and asked if I was still interested,” OKeefe said.
Okeefe worked in hospital emergency rooms after taking college nursing courses at Harper Community College. She now works for Journey Care of Barrington.
One recent visitor to Huntley, Gramarossa, discussed her stint on the sidelines at Soldier Field. She participated as a supporter of Animal House Shelter’s Pawfest event at Deicke Park. She also promoted the book about the cheerleaders, “Missing from the Sidelines” by fellow ex Honey Bears Renee Halvorson and Carolyn Jolette.
“We were at an NFL Draft party in 2019 and we could not believe we had such a following,” Gramarossa, a Barrington resident, said.
Back in 1979, a friendly challenge led to Gramarossa’s first year as a Honey Bear.
“My brother bet me $10 that I would not make the team,” Gramarossa, of Barrington, said. “I was a model at the time and my agent said it would be good for my career. And the Honey Bears did generate a lot of benefit events. I did a lot of benefits and coach Core later said others should get some of them.”
She said the players on the 1979-1980 squads – Dan Hampton, Ted Albrecht, “Sweetness” Walter Payton and others, were great along with Honey Bear coach Core.
“All the guys were my friends,” Gramarossa said.
Her professional acting career included movie roles and legendary Second City. These included: a made-for-TV movie, “The Duke” with Bob Conrad; movies “Thief” with James Cahn, Jim Belushi and Tuesday Weld; “Code of Silence” and “Doctor Detroit.”
Now the marketing manager for an investment company in Des Plaines, Gramarossa continues sports interests as a ballet and tap dance coach for Palatine Park District.
On Sept. 8, when the Bears face Tennessee to open the season at Soldier Field, the Honey Bears won’t be on the sidelines, but memories will continue for many Honey Bears alumni.
