PHOENIX — This weekend, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a special tribute to someone who had a heart bigger than the entire game of baseball.
The inaugural Nicole Hazen 4 Kindness Award was presented ahead of Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Nicole was the late wife of Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen. Nicole Hazen passed away in August of 2022 at the age of 45 after a courageous battle with glioblastoma — an aggressive brain cancer. She is survived by her husband and four sons.
Mike Hazen and the Diamondbacks presented the inaugural award to Kristen Lovullo, Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo’s wife and friend to Nicole and the Hazen family.
Kristen shared with 12News after being surprised with the award that she hopes this will keep Nicole’s memory and mission of doing good alive.
“I think it’s wonderful. I just always want to keep her memory alive, keep her with us, so anything we can do in honor of her to help the community, to help people here so they don’t have to experience the things that this family has experienced, I think that’s important, it’s a wonderful thing,” shared Kristen Lovullo.
The Dbacks shared with the stadium that Kristen was “by Nicole’s side for her appointments, treatments, and all of the complex emotions that come with a critical illness. The two shared moments of hope and moments of extraordinary sorrow as Nicole faced the difficult reality of her prognosis.”
The Dbacks added, “Kristen Lovullo stepped into a role no one expects and shared a deep commitment and love of Nicole, Mike and the Hazen boys with her boundless energy and endless dedication to loving and supporting them.”
Kristen said she hopes we can all remember her friend, Nicole, for her kindness.
“For the kind, caring, strong woman that she was that really didn’t let anything knock her down even though it unfortunately took her life, and for being such a great mother, and having everything together, organized and just the biggest heart, and a mentor and a sister, just as the good person that she was,” said Kristen Lovullo. “If I could be like anybody it would be like Nicole,” she added.
Kristen said she is looking forward to being able to help select the next Nicole Hazen 4 Kindness Award recipient.
The Diamondbacks have also started a fund in Nicole’s name: https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/community/foundation/nicole-hazen-fund-for-hope
The Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope is all about giving support. It's meant to help patients with aggressive brain tumors access rapid, state-of-the-art treatment, as well as, compassionate support throughout their entire journey. All that work and support is being done in Nicole’s memory.
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