Laura Kostelnik Biskupic and Katherine Biskupic

About the Book: Long before NFL players had teams of trainers, nutritionists, therapists, and agents, the dynastic Green Bay Packers of the 1960s relied on a different kind of support staff: their wives. In Lambeau Ladies, mother and daughter Laura Kostelnik Biskupic and Katherine Biskupic tell the remarkable, largely
untold story of the women who helped to keep the Lombardi-era Packers performing at a championship level. From preparing game-day sandwiches, nursing injuries, and reviewing game film to managing households, hosting social gatherings, and providing emotional strength to their spouses, these women were a driving force behind one of the greatest teams in football history
Through intimate interviews and vivid storytelling, the authors bring to life the experiences of Cherry Starr, Vicky Aldridge, Barbara Gregg, Ruth Pitts, Peggy Kostelnik, and many other wives who formed deep friendships and carved out lives of meaning far from their hometowns, often in the face of social and racial barriers. With humor and candor, they describe making ends meet on modest salaries, feeding hungry young players who wandered into their kitchens, boosting their husbands’ confidence, and coming up with ingenious strategies for staying warm—and stylish—on the sidelines during Green Bay’s frigid winters.
Their stories reach far beyond football. Some of these women helped integrate Green Bay during the civil rights movement. One became the district’s first Black teacher; another was half of the NFL’s first interracial marriage. Others made contributions in their own singular ways—fostering children, launching a business and a community organization, becoming a voice in local media. And at the center of it all was Marie Lombardi, the coach’s wife and the de facto mentor of the entire wives’ cohort, whose influence extended from locker-room culture to community life.
About the Authors:
Laura Kostelnik Biskupic cut her teeth as a sportswriter and wrote about the Packers in a Where Are They Now series for the Appleton Post Crescent. She taught high school journalism, worked as a marketing director, and since 2013 has hosted a popular blog. The daughter of Green Bay Packer Hall of Famer Ron Kostelnik, Laura grew up in the shadow of Lambeau Field under the watchful eyes of Packer wives.
Katherine Biskupic is a comedy writer based in Los Angeles via the Midwest. Trained at Second City, she won the top award at their Works by Women Fest before moving to Los Angeles and selling a sports comedy pilot to Audible. With her comedy duo, she has headlined and performed at comedy festivals all over the country, from New York to Seattle. Her videos have been featured on Funny or Die, Vulture, UPROXX and USA Today. She still roots for the Packers every Sunday despite being surrounded by a plethora of vegan “cheese.”