A former Husker player and cancer survivor is recognized at Husker game

Friday night was Alumni Night at Haymarket Park.

Former Husker baseball players were brought onto the field and recognized before the game.

One of them was Dr. Gene Stohs who played center field for Nebraska in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

He could have gone pro  but wanted to be a doctor instead.  He’s now a physician at the Women’s Healthcare Center of Williamsburg.

Dr. Stohs was also diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018.

One year and 12 rounds of chemotherapy later, he’s cancer free.  But he said it affected his time at the office and the coworkers who mean so much to him.

“They’re an important part of my life,” Stohs said.  “They’re my second family and I love them very much.”

He bought them and their families tickets to Friday night’s game.

“It was my way of thanking them for getting me through some health issues earlier this year,” Stohs said.  “They were a constant support and they were a critical component of getting through this emotional battle as well as physical.”

But they returned the gesture: Recognizing him by getting him to toss tee shirts to the crowd between innings.

“He’s our anchor at the office,” said Kelsey Jaacks, a nurse who works with Dr. Stohs.  “He’s been working there I think for 40 years…and we just want to thank him and surprise him and recognize him for all that he means to us.”

Dr. Stohs, who plans to retire in August, said being cancer free spending an evening at the ball park with his grandkids and his coworkers — all of those he loves — it just doesn’t get any better.