ST. LOUIS — After Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith moved the baseball world with his decision to donate his entire personal fortune to charities supporting the poor, underprivileged children, and long-term care patients, his decades-long partner, Denise Smith, has spoken out for the first time.

And what she shared has once again brought tears to the eyes of Cardinals Nation.

In an intimate interview with local media, Denise Smith said slowly but proudly:

“He has no regrets whatsoever. On the contrary, he told me that this is the first time he’s felt completely at peace. Ozzie is happy to know his legacy will live on — not on the statistics, but in the lives of those who need help.”

At age 71, Ozzie Smith — “The Wizard” with 13 Gold Gloves and a firm place in the Hall of Fame — chose to close a chapter in his life not with records, but with compassion. According to previously released information, his entire personal fortune will be distributed to various charities focused on education, healthcare, and support for low-income communities.

But according to Denise, the decision wasn’t an impulsive one.

“We’ve talked about this for years,” she revealed. “Ozzie always said that baseball gave him so much. If he could give something back, it had to be something that truly changed other people’s lives.”

Those who knew Ozzie Smith only through his acrobatic jumps on the field might be surprised. But for Denise, this is who he truly was.

“He never measured the value of his life by money,” she said. “He measured it by the number of people he could help.”

For years, Ozzie and Denise quietly engaged in community work in St. Louis—from fundraising for children’s scholarships to supporting long-term care centers. However, announcing his will at age 71 has taken the story to a whole new level.

For Cardinals Nation, Ozzie Smith was already an immortal icon. But this action has elevated him beyond the realm of sports.

A former teammate shared that Ozzie once said, “If people ever remember me, I want them to remember me for doing the right thing.” Denise confirmed that wasn’t just empty words.

“There were nights he would sit quietly and tell me, ‘We’ve had enough. What’s left over should go to those who never had the chance.’” She smiled, her eyes welling up. “I’ve never seen him so certain about anything.”

This decision also reflects how Ozzie viewed his legacy. For him, Hall of Fame titles or the applause at Busch Stadium were only part of the story.

“He told me that titles would eventually gather dust,” Denise recounted. “But if a child can go to school thanks to a scholarship from his foundation, or a patient receives better care… that’s what truly lasts.”

Ozzie’s composure in the face of this momentous decision was what moved Denise the most.

“There were no tears of regret,” she said. “Only serenity. He told me, ‘If I leave tomorrow, I want to know that I used my opportunity wisely.’”

In a professional sports world increasingly tied to huge contracts and commercial value, Ozzie Smith’s choice serves as a rare reminder of the profound meaning of success.

For Denise, her husband remains the humble man who once sat in the stands with his family, the man who always stopped to sign autographs for children even when exhausted after a game.

“He never forgot where he came from,” she said. “And he didn’t want anyone else to be left behind.”

As the story spread, many Cardinals fans shared that they were not only proud of Ozzie as a legend on the field, but also of the great man he was off the field.

Denise concluded the conversation with a simple yet powerful statement:
“He didn’t see this as a sacrifice. He saw it as the last gift he could give.”

For St. Louis, Ozzie Smith was once “The Wizard” on the field. But for the wider community, he was becoming something even greater—a testament that true legacy lies not in what we keep, but in what we give.

And if anyone wondered if he had any regrets, the answer was clear from the woman who understood him best:
No. Only happiness.