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Nun wins MVP from LE Smith Glass Co.

Pittsburgh's 'Most Valuable Pray-er'

By Jennifer Reeger, Tribune-Review

For Sister Damian Fleischman, rooting for the Steelers is a habit she hasn't been able to break.

Her lifelong devotion to the team has earned her a Super Bowl trophy -- or at least a glass replica.

Fleischman, dubbed Pittsburgh's "Most Valuable Pray-er" by the L.E. Smith Glass Co., received a glass replica of the Vince Lombardi Trophy from the Mt. Pleasant glassmaker on Wednesday during a celebration that included a tour of the plant and a meeting with a former Steelers great.

The glass company is making 100 limited-edition replica trophies that will sell for about $3,000 each. They already have a number of orders for the handmade trophies and expect to sell all 100.

In fact, when company President and Chief Executive Officer William Kelman brought a prototype to an event at the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh, he took 30 to 40 orders that night.

"People couldn't keep their hands off it," he said.

nun.jpgAnd Fleischman wanted to get her hands on one, too. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Fleischman said she's been a Steelers fan for all of her 61 years. The Benedictine nun proudly wears black and gold around St. Joseph's Monastery in St. Marys, Elk County.

Before the Super Bowl, Fleischman saw a report on WTAE-TV about Smith Glass producing the trophies and decided to send off an e-mail.

"I just wanted to let them know that was awesome support for the Steelers," she said.

She attached a picture of herself decked out in the team colors in her Steelers-themed office at the Catholic Charities Center in St. Marys. Fleischman also asked if there was any way she could purchase an irregular or second-quality trophy at a discounted price.

That's when Kelman stepped in and decided to give "Sister Mary Steeler" a first-quality trophy engraved with her name and the title "Most Valuable Pray-er."

"This was a special thing," Kelman said. "People like this who give their entire life, it's nice to be able to give back."

Smith Glass arranged for the trophy presentation and added another surprise -- a visit from former Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood. Over the years, he's met all kinds of Steelers fans. But he never really thought about a nun being a fan.

"I didn't think they had time for that," he said.

Fleischman was especially surprised to meet Greenwood.

"I have all his football cards," she said. "I did not know of all these surprises."

The biggest surprise of all was the trophy, which Fleischman cradled like a baby during the whole event.

"I was really, really humbled," she said.

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I pretty much would give anything to see the picture she sent to LE Smith to make them want to give her a $3,000 trophy.

Also, I am waiting for somebody to contact me with the news that I won the Most Valuable Blogger award. LE Smith, are you listening?

Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 12:11PM by Registered CommenterBettina | CommentsPost a Comment

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