Alex G. Spanos, a Stockton native and billionaire land developer, philanthropist and longtime owner of the National Football League's San Diego Chargers, made a shocking yet poignant admission Sunday.

Alex G. Spanos, a Stockton native and billionaire land developer, philanthropist and longtime owner of the National Football League's San Diego Chargers, made a shocking yet poignant admission Sunday.



The city's richest self-made man, who has donated and raised millions of dollars for causes and organizations throughout the world, including the United Way San Joaquin and University of the Pacific, admitted his battle with dementia in a letter to his family published with their permission in the San Diego Union Tribune.



Spanos, 85, and his family, including his wife, Faye, decided within the past week to announce his illness to answer questions they believed the public had about his declining health, as evidenced by his infrequent public appearances of late.



"It's been coming on for some time," said Natalia Orfanos, director of public relations for the AG Spanos Cos. "It just seemed that we should just at some point do it, and it was like any time was as good as any. We decided just do it and get on with the new year."



Spanos was in the owner's box Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego during the Chargers' 52-21 win over the Denver Broncos for the American Football Conference West Division title. The Chargers will play host to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC wild-card round this weekend.



Spanos' letter read:



To Faye and my children, Deno, Dea, Alexis and Michael,



At 85, I feel blessed because I have you in my life, and I have fifteen wonderful grandchildren and a brand new great grandchild. I have accomplished most everything I wanted to achieve, with your help and support. Honestly, I couldn't have done it without your mother. My greatest success story has been my family.



I've had my share of health problems in the last ten years, but today, physically, I feel strong. My great frustration is that, more and more, my memories come and go, and friends all my life are not recognized. Many of the things I say and do, I can no longer remember even right afterwards. I now understand that, as my memory continues to get worse, my mind will never be what it once was. And that's why I wanted to write you this letter now, to make sure you knew that you are all my greatest pride and joy.



I love you all very much.



Your husband and father,



Dad



Pacific Athletic Director Lynn King said he was unaware of the severity of Spanos' condition. "There's no question about Alex Spanos' legacy," King said. "How his family has represented Alex is phenomenal."



Spanos remains physically active and has maintained his daily routine, rising each morning at 5:30 a.m., going to his Stockton office at 7 a.m., playing gin rummy in the afternoon at Stockton Golf and Country Club, returning home for dinner about 5:30 p.m., and going to bed about 8:30 p.m., according to Orfanos.



"He has always been a man of routine," she said. "He's very disciplined in that regard."



But his memory has diminished over the past two or three years, said his son, Dean, president and chief executive officer of the Chargers and a principal in the AG Spanos Cos.



"The most important thing we want people to know is he's happy and he's living his life the way he wants to," Dean Spanos said from San Diego a couple hours prior to Sunday's scheduled 5:15 p.m. kickoff. "Physically, he's great."



Dean Spanos said doctors don't know the extent of his father's illness. There is no history of Alzheimer's Disease in the family, he said. Alex Spanos had a seven-way heart bypass in 2000, and had surgery and underwent chemotherapy for colon cancer about three years ago.



Spanos, a son of Greek immigrants, grew out of humble beginnings to build a real estate empire. In 1980, he bought an interest in the Chargers from his close friend, hotel magnate Barron Hilton, and on Aug. 1 1984, he acquired the team outright from Gene Klein.



"That was the most exciting time of his life in business," Dean Spanos said. "He's always been a huge football fan, and to be part of the league's ownership was the highlight of his career."



The Chargers made one playoff appearance during the first 10 years of Spanos' reign. In 1994, he appointed Dean to lead the franchise. That season turned out to be one of the most memorable in Chargers' history as the team advanced to Super Bowl XXIX, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.



Contact sports editor Bob Highfill at (209) 546-8282 or bhighfill@recordnet.com.