Saturday, September 7, 2024
As a high school freshman, I was fortunate to be a part of the first girls basketball team at Bishop Grimes (BG) to be coached by the legendary Barb Pfefferle. At the time, it was the only athletic activity other than cheer leading available to women. Under coach Pfeff, we played “like the boys” – no girls rules for us! – and in those first years we generally dominated our opponents! As a deadly accurate shooting guard and ballhandler, Mary was the recognized leader of the team. With the passing of Title IX, girls were allowed to play on boy’s teams in noncontact sports if there was no equivalent girl’s team in the school. For the years I was at BG, the “boy’s” tennis team consisted mainly of girls from the BB team that also played tennis – Mary, Karen Klym, and Helen White leading the way for those of us that followed. Being athletic, and actually good at sports was not yet mainstream for women in the high schools of the 1970’s. The first year we were allowed to play on the boy’s tennis team, our coach was required to survey the opposing boys regarding how they “felt” about playing against (and potentially being beaten by) a girl! Thankfully, we have come a long way since then. The nucleus of women athletes that formed that “first group” have stayed in contact all these years, often returning to Syracuse in the summer for a reunion. As noted, Mary was a quiet but observant and reflective person - when she spoke, people listened. We will miss her dearly at future reunions.
Suzanne – I have only met you a couple of times. Mary’s presence in the lives of those she touched was a true blessing. May you find comfort in the memories of your years together and the recognition that Mary is no longer suffering.