PITTSBURGH (AP) - Sharon Ilkin, the wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Tunch Ilkin, has died after a battle with breast cancer at age 55.

Ilkin, of Upper St. Clair died Monday.

Her husband, now a radio commentator for the Steelers, says she was "like sunshine. She was absolutely beautiful and didn't know it."

The couple met at Indiana State where he played football and she was a cheerleader who appeared on a 1977 Sports Illustrated cover with basketball great Larry Bird, then a star at the school. Tunch Ilkin never made the cover in 13 seasons with the Steelers from 1980 to 1992, before finishing with Green Bay in 1993.

Sharon Ilkin's funeral will be Saturday at The Bible Chapel of the South Hills. The family is requesting donations to the Light of Life Mission, a homeless shelter the couple supported.

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