Wife of Miami great Alonzo Highsmith, Denise, dies at 61

Denise Chong Highsmith, wife of former Miami RB and New England Patriots executive Alonzo Highsmith, has died. According to a memorial service announcement posted to her Instagram, Highsmith’s wife’s death was “unexpected.” She was 61.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved mother, wife, sister, and friend, Denise Elizabeth Highsmith,” the post reads. “Denise was truly one of a kind—a fun, loving, and free-spirited soul who embraced everyone without judgment. She poured into the lives of others with kindness, laughter, and service, and in doing so, she found joy and fulfillment.

“To know her was to feel seen, loved, and uplifted. … Denise will forever be remembered for the light she brought into the world, and her spirit will live on in all of us.”

The cause of death was not released. However, details regarding her memorial service was revealed. A funeral will be held in the morning on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Houston with a viewing, followed by a celebration of life. A private burial will follow.

The event is planned to be live-streamed for loved ones unable to attend. In addition, a memorial service in Miami will be announced in the coming days, per the post.

Her husband, Alonzo Highsmith, is a Miami football great that helped lead the Hurricanes to the 1983 national championship. Playing running back for the ‘Canes, Highsmith ranked top five in program rushing yards, all-purpose yards, touchdowns and 100-yard rushing games at the time he moved to the pros.

Highsmith would go on to play in the NFL from 1987 until 1993, spending time with the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs before hanging up his cleats. His relatively short NFL career came after he was selected third overall by the Oilers in the 1987 NFL Draft.

He would return to the football world in 2012, but this time in a new role. That season, he joined the Green Bay Packers staff as its senior personnel executive. He’s since held front office roles for the Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, where he is now.

Highsmith returned to Miami in 2022 to take over as the team’s general manager of football operations. Though, he left in 2023 before joining the Patriots front office.

According to her instagram page, Denise and Alonzo Highsmith celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Highsmith himself has not addressed the news publicly.