Who is Chet Lemon’s wife Gigi Lemon? All about the family as former White Sox All-Star outfielder passes away

Gigi Lemon, wife of former Detroit Tigers outfielder Chester “Chet” Lemon, announced her spouse’s death via the Detroit Free Press on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The ex-MLB star, who was 70, had a rare blood disorder, polycythemia vera, and suffered a series of strokes over the years, which left him unable to walk or speak. Gigi Lemon told the Detroit Free Press:

“He was sleeping on his reclining sofa. He just wasn't responsive.”

Chet and Gigi Lemon worked together on their Florida-based indoor sportsplex, The Big House. According to its official website, Chester’s wife “played a crucial role in the technological and organizational aspects” of the complex. Gigi Lemon has studied computer science at the University of Michigan. According to bighouseusa.com:

“Her [Gigi’s] background in computer science undoubtedly contributed to the integration of cutting-edge technology in the facility, enhancing the overall experience for both athletes and visitors.”

The owner of The Big House Sports Complex witnessed another personal tragedy four years back. In 2021, Gigi lost her mother, Emma Vera Partee, who hailed from Detroit, Michigan, and was 85 years old.

Chet and Gigi Lemon married in the early 1990s

The Major League Baseball pro, who played for the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers for 16 seasons, was married to Valerie Jones. They had four children – Geneva, Chester Jr., David, and Marcus – with the last two also trying their hands at baseball, like their father. Chet parted ways with Valerie in 1990 and later married Gigi Partee.

Chester and Gigi Lemon, who were married for over three decades, had a daughter, Brianna, in 1998. Before Chet’s divorce and second marriage, he was reportedly diagnosed with polycythemia vera in the Spring of 1990, according to The Orlando Sentinel. In the following year, the three-time MLB All-Star player retired and had to be hospitalized due to a blood clot in the abdomen.

Chet faced multiple health struggles over the years and had his spleen removed in 2001, per The Orlando Sentinel. Last year, Gigi Lemon spoke to the Detroit Free Press about her husband’s condition:

“Chet has what they call aphasia. And I know it's different levels of aphasia, but he has global aphasia and that… We believe, like, his memory and everything's intact just from what, you know, his recognition and ability to know who he's talking to, but so far as being able to speak, he can no longer speak.”

Gigi Lemon added how Chester had found a way to communicate with others despite losing his ability to talk:

“He says ‘dee dough’ and there's different levels of dee dough. There's ‘dee dough’ when you're really happy. There's ‘Dee Dough,’ like you're really firm, and then there is a ‘No.’ So, we get different levels but that's about the extent of his speech.”

She talked about her family’s love for music and how they found a way to connect with Chet amidst his health struggles. Gigi Lemon also revealed that her husband started having many strokes around 2017, which impacted his speech.

She said that Chet suffered as many as 13 “recorded strokes.” Gigi talked about her hopes of setting up a foundation to help others and bring awareness around Chester Lemon’s condition.

“We hope to set up a foundation to be able to help get more education, and more help to caregivers, to those suffering with aphasia. Because I know where I was at, two and a half years ago, and not really understanding.

She added:

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And a lot of the articles that I read and videos that I watched, I believe that chat would speak again, and so learning to accept where you are and how to deal with it in the quality of life. And that sometimes we need help to have people get us there.”

Chet Lemon passed away on Thursday in Apopka, Florida. He was 70 and is survived by his wife, Gigi, and five children.

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