Cindy DeAngelis Grossman, the first wife of the former NFL star Herschel Walker, is a captivating figure who stands in her own right. In her husband’s journey with Disassociative Identity Disorder, Cindy had her own struggles — both from and with him.
Here, we will break down the early life of Cindy, her life after separation from Walker, and more.
Cindy DeAngelis Grossman Is an Italian-American
Born in September 1961 in Florida, Cindy belongs to Italian-American heritage. Her parents, Eva DeAngelis and Thomas DeAngelis lived in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where her father worked as a real estate agent.
She is not the only child of the family. She has a sister named Maria DeAngelis Tsettos.
As for her education, Herschel’s ex-wife went to Cocoa Beach High School in Cocoa Beach, Florida. But, her pursuit of a college degree took her to Georgia.
Studying business at the University of Georgia, Grossman would later realize how her decision to go to that particular university would shape her life.
Cindy Grossman Met Herschel Met In College
The former football player commenced his athletic journey at the University of Georgia, where his would-be-spouse also studied.
While Walker was in the treatment room following his tweaked ankle, the promising footballer first laid his eyes on Cindy, who was a friend of his sister Veronica.
The fact that DeAngelis recognized him as Veronica’s brother and not a football sensation. Recalling the incident in his book Breaking Free, the ex-NFL legend wrote;
I especially liked that she thought of me as Veronica’s brother and not as Herschel Walker, freshman sensation. That said something about her right there, and I took note of it.
As an athlete herself, Cindy, a member of Georgia’s track team, understood the demands of her ex-partner’s career. Their regular schedules were not altered even when they started dating.
Walker Considered Grossman A “Surrogate Sister”
After meeting in the treatment room, the ex-lovebirds were close, but they were not dating. Walker considered her more of a surrogate sister until after a year when romance sparked between them.
A fast learner and exceptional athlete, Walker was slow when it came to romance. Although he knew he liked Cindy the moment he saw her, his focus on football and his studies dulled his reaction as he wanted no distractions.
One thing he loved about his wife-to-be was the way she treated him like he was no big thing. He knew he could be himself freely with her. After their relationship began, the two were inseparable.
However, their union was not without challenges.
Their Relationship Estranged Cindy From Her Family
Even though the two were perfectly happy with each other, Cindy, a white woman, was not accepted by her family for dating a black man.
After learning about their relationship, Grossman’s family confronted her and was likely asked to choose them or Walker. Well, we know who she chose.
On the contrary, Walker’s parents were thrilled by their romance and embraced her wholeheartedly. In his book, the former football player mentioned how color was a wrapper some people saw, while, his folks preferred what was on the inside.
Things also changed for Cindy’s family after the athlete started making headlines with his talents. After reading about him in the newspaper, they decided Herschel was a good guy.
Later, when their engagement was announced on February 16, 1983, Grossman’s dad DeAngelis said,
I haven’t spoken to Herschel and Cindy about this, but I knew they intended to get married. I have met him many, many times and it has always been the same impression. He is a very exemplary gentleman. My wife feels the same way as I do.
Cindy DeAngelis Grossman and Herschel Walker Was Married For Almost Two Decades
Given all the history between their families, they tied the knot in a secret ceremony surrounded by some close friends on March 31, 1983, in Bloomingdale, N.J. Performed by Bloomingdale’s mayor, they exchanged vows at Thomas Darcey’s house. No reception or honeymoon followed the ceremony.
Learning about their wedding, Cindy’s mother expressed her desire for a grand wedding.
Walker and Grossman were both literally and figuratively inseparable. The athlete had recently turned pro, and his busy schedule coincided with their life. But the former couple were able to balance it commendably.
She accompanied him to his games, always cheered for him, and took care of their house while Walker was making waves in football. When he was with the Minnesota Vikings in 1989, they moved to their new home in Dallas.
The sweethearts were seemingly happy until the NFL player’s struggles with dissociative identity disorder started to surface. While DeAngelis had noticed changes in his behavior, it was not until her pregnancy the trail of abuse began.
In an interview, Cindy mentioned how her husband told her to close the door as he was having bad thoughts about hurting her. What started as harmless threats grew and grew, causing them to part the way by 2001, leading to their divorce in 2002.
Grossman Got The Custody of Their Son, Christian Walker
During their union, the former sweethearts became parents to a son, Christian Walker. He was born on September 30, 1999. Following their separation, Cindy got custody of their son, as Herschel was deemed unstable. He wholeheartedly accepted the decision.
Their son Christian is a social media influencer. He is not just popular for being a celebrity kid but also for advocating LGBTQ and abortion rights, among other things. He has a tremendous fan following on Twitter and other social media platforms.
On his Twitter, he occasionally shares pictures with his mother. From everything he has posted about his mom, it is clear they share a healthy relationship based on mutual understanding.
On the contrary, his relationship with his father is far from good. The celebrity kid is frequently seen calling out his dad. Following Walker’s speech about family values, his son said,
He has four kids, four different women. Wasn’t in the house raising one of them. He was out having s*x with other women. Do you care about family values? It was silent lie, after lie, after lie.
Despite everything Christian has said about him, Walker has stated he loves his offspring dearly.
Walker’s Ex-Wife Also Struggled Because of His Mental Illness
To downplay everything the former football player put his first love through because he was struggling himself would be an injustice to her. She has come forward with all the instances of abuse, and her ex-husband has not denied them.
While the early threats go as far as 1999, things only got worse. By September 2001, they were estranged. There are several reports of Walker pointing a gun at Grossman and threatening to kill her.
Moreover, the former athlete had also threatened to shoot Cindy along with his therapist, Jerry Mungadze. It was not a one-time thing.
By December 2001, Cindy had had too much and filed for a divorce, accusing him of “physically abusive and extremely threatening behavior.”
Following their split, she recalled some instances when Walker pointed a gun at her head and threatened to “blow her brains out.” He had even used knives and other sharp tools.
The divorce was not enough to free Grossman from her abusive husband. In 2005, Walker’s behaviors were so out of control that Cindy’s sister had to get a restraining order imposed on Walker.
It was not until a few years after their divorce that Grossman would learn about her husband’s diagnosis and make sense of his erratic behavior.
Cindy DeAngelis Grossman Moved On After The Divorce
DeAngelis, after her divorce from Herschel, found a home in another person. She was in a relationship with a guy around the time her sister, Maria, got a restraining order imposed on her ex-spouse.
Apnews reported Maria’s recollection of the event,
Walker “stated unequivocally that he was going to shoot my sister Cindy and her boyfriend in the head.”
However, the details of Grossman’s new partner have remained out of the spotlight.
On the other hand, her former partner Walker has happily been married to his second wife Julie Blanchard since 2021.
Walker’s Ex-Wife Cindy DeAngelis Grossman Is Now a Businesswoman
After graduating with a business degree from college, Cindy has embarked on her own business ventures. While the nature of her business remains unknown, she is reported to be successful, making fortunes through her endeavors.
Furthermore, she has been living in Irving, Texas, United States, for quite some time now.
Net Worth
Running her own business, Cindy is reported to have an estimated net worth of about $200 thousand which is far less compared to the tremendous fortune of her ex-hubby Walker of about $10 million.
