Giants' part owner Sue Burns dead at 58

“The whole thing's been unreal how fast all this happened,” Bochy said. “It's a hard day for all of us.”

The Giants didn't detail Burns' stake in the team but said she was the club's largest shareholder. However, she was never the controlling owner of the franchise.

“She embodied the spirit of the organization,” team president Larry Baer said. “She was an unbelievable rock of the organization. She embraced all parts of the organization— players, the front-office staff, concession workers, ushers, security. All of those people were in Sue's gigantic, wonderful web of Giants relationships. She felt she lived a very special and blessed life with her family and friends. There was a fullness and richness we all strive to achieve.”

Bill Neukom took over as controlling owner in October 2008 from Magowan, who headed the group that bought the team following the 1992 season.

“The Giants are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague Sue Burns,” Neukom said in a statement. “Sue was a remarkable mother, grandmother and friend whose loving and nurturing spirit touched everyone in the Giants family. Her unwavering loyalty to her beloved orange and black could be felt throughout the entire organization.”

Burns' husband, Harmon, an original investor in the franchise, died of heart failure in 2006 at age 61. His wife replaced him on the Giants' executive committee, Magowan said.

“I think she went to more games than any other partner,” Magowan said. “She had a great love of the Giants and baseball. She will be missed very much. The good news of her passing as quickly as she did is she wasn't uncomfortable.”

The Burns family was largely responsible for keeping the Giants in the Bay Area in 1992 rather than relocating to Florida. Bonds arrived the following year and went on to become baseball's career home run leader when he broke Hank Aaron's record in August 2007.

The couple also were integral in building the team's 10-year-old waterfront ballpark at China Basin.

“The times I met her, she was the most enthusiastic Giants fan in history,” Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff said by phone Sunday. “She'll be deeply missed. I really think their commitment to Giants ownership was a great deal based on her enthusiasm for the baseball team. She was the epitome of a Giants fan.”

Burns was born Aug. 9, 1950, in Anchorage, Alaska. A former math teacher who met her husband while they both worked at the Pentagon, is survived by two daughters, Tori Burns and Trina Dean, son-in-law Rob Dean, and two granddaughters, Madison and Mackenzie.

“It's unbelievable to think she's gone, really,” All-Star pitcher Matt Cain said. “I don't think we'll realize that until we get back home and we don't see her, and it's sad to hear that. All of our thoughts and prayers and everything are with her family. Hopefully, they can get through this time.”

Funeral arrangements were pending.

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