It is with great sadness the School has learned that Emerita, Marilyn Pomfret passed away April 24, 2019 at Vancouver General Hospital. Marilyn was an important member in the School’s community and will be profoundly missed.
Marilyn was one of the most celebrated of the School of Kinesiology’s alumni, having graduated with a Bachelor’s in Physical Education in 1954. She was inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, UBC Sports Hall of Fame, named a YWCA Woman of Distinction and was a recipient of a UBC Alumni Association Achievement Award, in the Faculty Community Service category.
Marilyn taught high school, primarily in West Vancouver, for nine years. She then returned to UBC in 1963 to teach in the Department of Physical Education, at the same time taking on the position of Head Coach of UBC’s Women’s volleyball team. During her eleven years as coach she guided her team to three Western Canadian championships and two CIS titles, including UBC’s first in Women’s Volleyball.
While teaching and coaching at UBC, Marilyn assumed the role of UBC’s Women’s Athletic Director, where she became acknowledged as a true “Builder” in the sport community. Her dedication to the principals of equality and co-operation secured increased funding, athletic opportunities, and participation for female athletes. Marilyn established the Canadian Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Union in 1974, which she then helped to amalgamate with the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (now Canadian Interuniversity Sport) in 1980.
On the Board of Directors of both Canada West and CIS Athletic Associations, Marilyn, in 1986, was awarded the Austin-Matthews Award for outstanding contribution to the development of university sport in Canada. UBC’s most prestigious female athletic award, given to the year’s outstanding female athlete, was in 1984 re-named in Marilyn Pomfret’s honour. Marilyn was recently featured as one of Education’s 100 as part of the UBC Faculty of Education’s Year of Alumni celebrations.
Marilyn will be remembered for her dedication to her community, as well as to women’s sports, which opened many doors of opportunity for female athletes not only at UBC, but across Canada. Our deepest condolences to her husband Jack, and family, whom she leaves behind.
Details for her Celebration of Life will be provided once confirmed.