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Football superstar Bettis' dad dies

Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

The father of Detroit native and retired Pittsburgh Steelers football star Jerome Bettis died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday, police said.

Johnnie Bettis Jr., 61, who had retired as Detroit's chief electrical inspector and lived in Detroit, had been working out earlier and fell ill. He had an apparent heart attack while driving his SUV near Maple, just west of Farmington Road, West Bloomfield police said.

Three people stopped to help, including a nurse and a doctor, but could not revive him, said West Bloomfield Police Lt. Carl Fuhs. Bettis was taken to Huron Valley Hospital in Commerce Township, where doctors tried to resuscitate him.

John Bettis, Jerome's older brother, said his father had been doing his regular workout at the Jewish Community Council when he suddenly felt nauseated.

"He waited for an hour and (left for home), he said.

"His trainer followed him to make sure he was OK. He pulled off to the side of the road and had a silent heart attack."

John Bettis said his father's death was a shock because he didn't have heart problems. "He had diabetes but he was controlling his blood sugar," said John Bettis.

Bettis has been described as the firm parent and an electronics wizard.

John Bettis said his father was a great guy who was a father figure to neighborhood kids.

"A lot of the guys are hurting," said John Bettis.

Johnnie Bettis is survived by his wife of 41 years, Gladys; and children Kimberly Bettis, John Bettis III and Jerome Bettis.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

Jerome Bettis retired after helping the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks in last season's Super Bowl in his hometown of Detroit