Janet Condra’s name surfaces whenever basketball fans discuss Larry Bird’s personal life. Yet her story extends far beyond that brief teenage marriage. Born in the 1950s in French Lick, Indiana, Janet represents countless women who’ve quietly rebuilt their lives after high-profile divorces. She chose dignity over drama. Privacy over publicity. Her journey from high school sweetheart to single mother to independent woman deserves recognition.
Quick Bio
| Full Name | Janet Condra |
|---|---|
| Birth Year | 1950s |
| Birthplace | French Lick, Indiana, USA |
| Famous For | Larry Bird’s first wife |
| Marital Status | Married (second husband: Mike Deakins) |
| Children | Corrie Bird (daughter with Larry Bird) |
| Nationality | American |
| Estimated Net Worth | $500,000 |
| Profession | Mail carrier (reported) |
Early Life and Background: Small-Town Indiana Roots
Janet Condra grew up in French Lick, Indiana during the 1950s and 1960s. This small-town upbringing shaped her values profoundly. French Lick wasn’t just any town it was where community mattered more than celebrity. Everyone knew everyone else’s business. Traditional Midwestern values ruled daily life.
She attended Springs Valley High School alongside Larry Bird. Her childhood was typical for that era: modest means, strong family ties, and wholesome American values. The cultural context of 1960s-70s Indiana emphasized family, hard work, and privacy. These principles would later guide her through unimaginable challenges.
Janet’s personality traits emerged early. Friends described her as genuine and grounded. She never sought attention or spotlight. That down-to-earth demeanor would contrast sharply with the celebrity exposure coming her way.
Current Age And Physical Appearance
Born sometime in the 1950s, Janet Condra is approximately in her mid-60s to early 70s as of 2025. She maintains complete privacy about personal details. Recent photographs are virtually nonexistent. This deliberate choice reflects her lifelong commitment to normalcy.
From old photos, Janet stood approximately 5’5″ tall with blonde hair and light eyes. Her style remained modest and understated throughout her youth. Unlike her ex-husband, she avoided public appearances entirely. Current physical appearance remains unknown exactly as she prefers.
Janet Condra Meeting Larry Bird: High School Sweethearts
Their love story began at Springs Valley High School. Larry Bird wasn’t yet the NBA legend he’d become. He was simply a talented basketball player with big dreams. Janet witnessed his transformation from small-town kid to rising star.
Young love in 1970s Indiana meant football games, school dances, and innocent romance. They shared similar backgrounds and values initially. Basketball consumed more of Larry’s focus each year. Balancing relationship and ambition proved increasingly difficult.
The couple married on November 8, 1975. Janet was barely past her teens. Larry was 19 and laser-focused on basketball. Their wedding reflected modest beginnings intimate, simple, and hopeful. Community expectations likely influenced the decision. Young marriages were common in Midwestern towns during that era.
Who is Larry Bird? The Basketball Legend Context
Understanding Janet’s story requires knowing Larry Bird’s trajectory. Born December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, Larry became one of basketball’s greatest players. His father’s suicide deeply affected him. Basketball became his salvation and escape route.
Larry’s career with the Boston Celtics (1979-1992) was legendary:
- Three NBA championships
- Three MVP awards
- 12-time NBA All-Star
- Olympic Gold Medal (1992 Dream Team)
He later succeeded as coach and team executive for the Indiana Pacers. His estimated net worth reached $75 million. Fame brought tremendous pressure though. Larry struggled balancing personal relationships with career demands throughout his life.
Janet Condra and Larry Bird’s Marriage: Too Young, Too Fast
Their marriage faced challenges immediately. Both were extremely young emotionally unprepared for marriage realities. Larry’s basketball career demanded constant attention. Financial struggles added stress during early years. Different life goals emerged quickly.
After marrying, Larry briefly attended Indiana University before homesickness and personal issues forced him to leave. He transferred to Indiana State University where his success accelerated dramatically. Janet felt increasingly isolated and secondary to basketball.
The couple separated, then briefly reconciled. Janet became pregnant during that reconciliation period. Their daughter Corrie Bird was born August 14, 1977. Pregnancy couldn’t save the crumbling marriage though.
The marriage officially ended in divorce in 1976 before Corrie’s birth. It lasted less than one year. Larry initially wasn’t involved in Corrie’s upbringing. Janet faced single motherhood at an incredibly young age. The timing was brutal: Larry’s career was exploding just as their marriage imploded.
Life After Divorce: Single Motherhood and Quiet Strength
Janet became Corrie’s primary caregiver immediately. She faced financial difficulties as a teenage single mother. Limited child support from Larry initially complicated matters. Family in French Lick, Indiana provided occasional help.
The emotional toll was devastating. Dealing with failed marriage at such young age hurt deeply. Watching her ex-husband become a national celebrity added humiliation. Small-town gossip made everything harder. Explaining father’s absence to young Corrie broke her heart repeatedly.
Yet Janet demonstrated remarkable resilience. She fiercely protected Corrie from media interest. She refused exploiting her connection to the famous father. Normal childhood for Corrie mattered more than money.
Janet’s support system included:
- Family members in Indiana
- Close friends who stood by her
- Community support despite gossip
- Her own inner strength and determination
Janet Condra’s Career and Personal Independence
Specific details about Janet’s professional life remain private exactly as she prefers. Reports suggest she worked as a mail carrier in Indiana. She held various jobs supporting herself and Corrie. Financial independence became a core value.
Janet never sought publicity or capitalized on the Larry Bird connection. No interviews. No tell-all books. No reality TV opportunities. Dignity meant more than potential financial gain from sharing her story.
Her work ethic came straight from her Midwestern upbringing. She developed practical skills necessary for self-sufficiency. The transformation from young divorcée to independent woman required incredible personal growth. She found identity beyond relationship to a famous person.
Larry Bird’s Relationship with Corrie Bird: A Complicated Bond
Larry had minimal contact with Corrie initially. His focus on basketball career left little room for fatherhood. Paternity was briefly disputed but later confirmed. Janet bore the burden of explaining his absence.
Corrie grew up largely without her father present. She watched him on television like other fans. The father-daughter bond that should have existed simply didn’t. She felt abandoned and confused throughout childhood. Her mother provided the stability her father couldn’t.
As Corrie matured, she reached out to Larry. Initial attempts met with limited response. The relationship gradually improved over time but never achieved true closeness. Larry attended her college graduation eventually. Their connection remains cordial but distant decades of absence couldn’t be fully erased.
Janet’s role throughout this situation showed impressive maturity. She never badmouthed Larry to Corrie. She encouraged their daughter to form her own opinions. She provided emotional support during rejection periods. That takes extraordinary grace.
Janet Condra’s Second Marriage and Family Life with Mike Deakins
Janet eventually remarried. Her second husband, reportedly named Mike Deakins, remains largely unknown publicly. This marriage has lasted far longer than her first. She found the stability and happiness that eluded her with Larry.
The couple welcomed additional children. Corrie gained half-siblings. Janet created a nurturing family environment away from spotlight. Privacy remained paramount. Her second marriage applied wisdom gained from earlier experience.
This time she chose a partner more compatible with her values. Maturity made an enormous difference. Her private family life represents everything she learned from past mistakes. Normal life not fame became her greatest achievement.
Larry Bird’s Life After Divorce: Second Marriage Success
Larry met Dinah Mattingly while at Indiana State University. Their relationship developed slowly over years a more mature approach than his teenage marriage. They married on October 31, 1989. Dinah Mattingly became Larry’s second wife and the marriage has lasted over 35 years.
Larry adopted Dinah’s two children: Connor Bird and Mariah Bird. He became a father figure to them in ways he hadn’t with Corrie. His personal life stabilized significantly. Financial success from his NBA career, coaching, and executive roles brought security.
Larry’s life after divorce from Janet Condra showed how timing and maturity affect relationships. His success with Dinah wasn’t just about finding “the right person” it was about being the right person at the right time.
Janet Condra’s Current Life and Legacy: Strength Over Spotlight
As of 2025, Janet lives quietly, likely still in Indiana. She maintains complete privacy from media. No social media presence. No public appearances. She’s surrounded by the family she built through perseverance.
Her relationship with adult Corrie remains close. She’s now a grandmother to Corrie’s children. Family gatherings stay private. She reaps rewards of devoted mothering through decades.
Janet’s legacy extends beyond being “Larry Bird’s ex-wife.” She demonstrated:
- Resilience through devastating adversity
- That dignity beats publicity always
- How identity isn’t defined by spouse
- The power of quiet strength
Her story resonates with countless women behind sports legends who’ve faced similar circumstances. She chose peace over profit. Privacy over fame. That’s revolutionary in today’s world where people monetize every celebrity connection.
Networth And Financial Status
Janet Condra’s estimated net worth stands around $500,000. This figure remains speculative since she’s never disclosed financial details. She lives comfortably but not lavishly. Her financial independence was maintained through personal effort not solely through Larry’s wealth.
She received child support for Corrie. Divorce settlement details remained private. Larry eventually fulfilled his financial obligations. However, money never seemed to be Janet’s primary motivation.
In contrast, Larry Bird’s net worth is estimated at $75 million. His earnings from NBA career, coaching positions, team executive roles, and endorsements created substantial wealth. The financial disparity reflects their different life choices. Larry’s wealth is public knowledge. Janet’s finances stay deliberately private.
Their daughter Corrie Bird built her own career as a healthcare manager. She achieved financial stability through personal efforts clearly influenced by her mother’s example of independence.
Conclusion: A Biography Written in Quiet Courage
Janet Condra’s biography proves that meaningful lives aren’t always visible ones. She could have spent decades in Larry Bird’s shadow, defined entirely by that brief first marriage. Instead, she stepped into her own light quieter perhaps, but entirely authentic.
Her journey from teenage bride to single mother to independent woman inspires anyone facing difficult circumstances. She raised Corrie with strength and resilience while the girl’s famous father played to sold-out arenas. She found love again and built lasting happiness. She maintained dignity when exploitation would’ve been easier.
The legacy of Janet Condra isn’t measured in championships or headlines. It lives in the daughter she raised, the privacy she protected, and the quiet courage she displayed. In an era obsessed with fame, she reminds us that the most powerful stories sometimes unfold away from cameras.
Her life story teaches valuable lessons about young marriage risks, single parenthood challenges, and the preciousness of privacy in celebrity-adjacent situations. She represents the private lives of celebrity ex-wives who choose substance over spotlight.
FAQs About Janet Condra
Who is Janet Condra?
Janet Condra is Larry Bird’s first wife and Corrie Bird’s mother. They married in 1975 when both were teenagers in French Lick, Indiana.
How long were Janet Condra and Larry Bird married?
Their marriage lasted less than one year, from November 1975 to 1976.
Does Janet Condra have children?
Yes. She has daughter Corrie Bird with Larry Bird and reportedly additional children from her second marriage to Mike Deakins.
What is Janet Condra’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is approximately $500,000, though she keeps financial details completely private.
Where is Janet Condra now in 2025?
She lives privately, likely still in Indiana, maintaining a quiet lifestyle away from media attention.
What does Janet Condra do for a living?
Reports suggest she worked as a mail carrier, though specific career details remain private.
Did Janet Condra remarry?
Yes, she married Mike Deakins. This second marriage has proven far more successful and lasting.
What was Janet Condra’s relationship with Larry Bird like?
They were high school sweethearts who married too young. Larry’s rising basketball career created insurmountable strain on their relationship.
