By Cliff Radel
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Marge Schott

MOUNT AUBURN - Marge Schott, the 75-year-old part-owner of the Cincinnati Reds and the team's former president and chief executive officer, has been hospitalized after experiencing breathing difficulties.

"Marge is in the best hands at the Christ Hospital," her sister, Bobbie Unnewehr, is telling friends about her ailing sister.

Since 1999, when she sold her majority interest in the ball club, Schott has suffered a series of health problems requiring hospitalization.

This week, various reports, confirmed by friends and Reds insiders, have placed Schott on a ventilator in intensive care at Christ for at least 24 hours.

Schott is responding positively to treatment. On Wednesday, Mari Lee Schwarzwalder, a friend and director of the Warren County Humane Association, said, "she is much better. She may be out of intensive care next week. She's a tough one."

To keep Schott on the road to recovery, students at St. Ursula Academy in East Walnut Hills crafted and signed a giant combination get well and Valentine's Day card.

Schott has been a sweetheart to the school.

In 2000, she donated $1 million for a new classroom building. In 2002, she gave $500,000 for a new athletic field.

Frances Reardon Romweber, the school's principal and a lifelong friend of Schott's family, planned to take the card to the hospital.

The card contains such greetings as: "Mrs. Schott - we love you." "Get well." "Come visit us, the softball season's starting soon."

"This card and people's prayers," Romweber said, "will show Marge we're thinking of her and hoping she gets better."

E-mail cradel@enquirer.com