| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Janet Condra |
| Date of Birth | Exact date not known to the public |
| Place of Birth | Indiana, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| High School | Springs Valley High School, French Lick, Indiana |
| Known For | First wife of NBA legend Larry Bird |
| Marriage Date | November 8, 1975 |
| Divorce Date | October 31, 1976 |
| Children | One daughter, Corrie Bird (born August 14, 1977) |
| Second Marriage | Reportedly married Mike Deakins |
| Estimated Net Worth | Around $500,000 (not confirmed) |
| Current Residence | Believed to be Indiana, USA |
Most people know Larry Bird as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But not many people know about the woman he married first, before fame and the NBA changed his life forever. Her name is Janet Condra, and her story is one of quiet strength, love, and choosing a private life over public attention.
Janet Condra may not be a celebrity, but her life is worth knowing about. She was there before the spotlight, before the championships, and before Larry Bird became a legend. This article tells her full story in a simple and honest way.
Early Life and Background
Janet Condra was born and raised in French Lick, Indiana. Not much is publicly known about her family, her parents, or her siblings. She grew up like most young girls in a quiet American town, going to school, spending time with family, and living a simple life.
She attended Springs Valley High School, where she met Larry Bird. At the time, neither of them could have imagined that their lives would one day be written about by people all over the world.
Janet grew up with strong values, hard work, and a love for her community. These things stayed with her for the rest of her life, even after everything changed.
How Janet Condra and Larry Bird Met
Janet Condra and Larry Bird were childhood sweethearts. They met in high school and quickly became close. Larry was already a strong basketball player, and Janet was a regular student living a normal teen life.
The two fell in love the way many young people do. Slowly, naturally, and in the middle of everyday school life. They were classmates, friends, and eventually a couple. Their bond grew over the years, and when they finished school, their relationship continued.
It was a small town love story that many people can relate to. Two young people from Indiana who cared deeply about each other.
Marriage to Larry Bird
On November 8, 1975, Janet and Larry officially tied the knot in a small ceremony. At the time, Larry had already enrolled at Indiana State University, where he was developing into one of the most exciting young basketball players in college sports.
The wedding matched the simple lifestyle both of them had grown up with. They were young, they were in love, and they believed their future together would be a happy one.
However, marriage brought new challenges. Larry was deeply focused on his basketball career, spending long hours training and playing. He was becoming one of the top college players and his future in the NBA was starting to grow.
The Divorce and What Happened
Sadly, the marriage did not last long. The couple drifted apart over time and eventually split up. They began living separately in 1976 and ultimately divorced on October 31, 1976.
The reasons behind the divorce were never fully explained to the public. What most people agree on is that they were very young, facing many pressures, and simply grew apart during a difficult time in their lives. Larry was becoming more focused on basketball, and the personal connection between the two slowly broke down.
Even though the divorce was painful, both of them moved forward with their lives in their own ways.
Their Daughter Corrie Bird
Even after the divorce, Janet and Larry remained connected through one very important person, their daughter Corrie Bird.
Corrie was born on August 14, 1977, in Brazil, Indiana. Janet raised Corrie alone, as Larry Bird had little to no contact with them for many years. When Corrie was a child, she and Janet would send Larry letters, school pictures, and report cards. They even sent these through certified mail to make sure he received them.
Initially, Larry Bird denied being Corrie’s biological father. But after tests proved he was, he acknowledged it but did not build a close relationship with her. After he got drafted in the NBA, Larry set up a bank account for Corrie that she could access when she turned 18.
Larry Bird once said in an interview that he thought about Corrie but could not change the past or the early years of her life.
Corrie has since built her own successful life and works in healthcare management. She has also kept a private lifestyle similar to her mother.
Life After Divorce
After the divorce, Janet Condra chose a quiet and private life. She stayed away from media attention and did not seek fame. She focused on raising her daughter and building a stable future.
To support herself and Corrie, Janet worked hard and held different jobs. Reports suggest she may have worked as a mail carrier. Even though she was once married to a famous basketball player, she never used that connection for attention or money.
It is also reported that she later married a man named Mike Deakins and continued living a quiet family life. She is believed to still live in Indiana and remains out of the public spotlight.
Janet Condra’s Net Worth
Because Janet has lived a very private life, her exact financial situation is not known. Her estimated net worth is around $500,000.
She never tried to gain financial benefits from her connection to Larry Bird. Instead, she chose a modest and independent life.
Who is Larry Bird Today
While Janet stayed private, Larry Bird became a basketball legend. After their divorce, he played for the Boston Celtics, won NBA championships, and earned many awards. He became one of the greatest players in basketball history.
Later, he married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Together they built a long and stable family life.
What Makes Janet Condra’s Story Important
Janet Condra’s story is important because it shows strength in silence. She was connected to fame but did not chase it. She faced personal struggles, raised her daughter mostly on her own, and built a peaceful life without public attention.
She chose privacy over fame and dignity over publicity. Her life is a reminder that not every important story is in the spotlight.
Concuslion
Janet Condra is not a celebrity, and she never wanted to be one. She is a woman who loved someone deeply, got hurt, moved forward, and quietly raised a daughter with strength and care.
Her story reminds us that behind every famous name, there is often a quieter story that never makes the front page. Janet’s chapter in Larry Bird’s life was short, but it was real and meaningful.
She is the kind of person who does not need a spotlight to matter. And that, in many ways, makes her story even more worth telling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why did Janet Condra and Larry Bird divorce?
Janet Condra and Larry Bird got divorced in October 1976, less than a year after their marriage in November 1975. The exact reasons were never made public, but most sources agree that they were very young, faced personal challenges, and grew apart as Larry became more focused on his growing basketball career. The pressure of a sports career combined with a very young marriage made it difficult for the relationship to survive.
Q2: Does Janet Condra have any children with Larry Bird?
Yes. Janet Condra and Larry Bird have one daughter together, named Corrie Bird. She was born on August 14, 1977, in Brazil, Indiana, about a year after their divorce. Janet raised Corrie mostly on her own. Corrie later married Trent Batson in 2008 and has lived a private life, similar to her mother. Larry Bird was largely absent during Corrie’s early childhood but set up a financial account for her to access when she turned 18.
Q3: Where is Janet Condra now?
As of 2026, Janet Condra is believed to be living quietly in Indiana, USA. She does not appear in public events, does not have a social media presence, and has not given any public interviews about her past. She has reportedly remarried a man named Mike Deakins and continues to live a peaceful, private life away from public attention. Her daughter Corrie is also married and living privately.
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