Brunswick Georgia! These were the very first words heard by a small gathering of baseball aficionados – words exclaimed with gusto. This was Dan Miscisco, UBC Phys. Ed grad of 1967 announcing the presentation of his experiences as a pro baseball player. It was this small Georgia town that happened to be his first stop on a short but sweet baseball career.
Miscisco grew up in Vancouver and as he finished high school displayed enough talent as a pitcher to be signed by the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched both in Brunswick and in Winnipeg where he roomed with a future Cardinal and Hall of Famer, Steve Carlton.
Dan tells his stories today with inordinate passion emphasizing to the extreme certain words. His highly active mind sometimes runs ahead of him spiked with off-the-charts intensity. Despite the success he had as a pitcher however, he decided his future was to further his education. So coming back to Vancouver he graduated from UBC but while taking classes also found time to play baseball for the Thunderbirds under legendary coach Frank Gnup.
Since attaining his degree Dan taught and coached on the lower mainland inspiring students with his passion and unconventional delivery of his messages. Coaching basketball and volleyball are his specialties which culminated in his induction into the British Columbia Basketball Hall of Fame as a builder.
Despite his baseball memories which he so willingly shares, deciding that UBC and teaching would ultimately become his future proved to be a smart decision.
Written by Fred Hume
Despite her spirited Hall of Fame basketball career which included leading UBC in scoring four of her five years, Lisa Nickle recalls, “Its really the people who are ingrained in my memories.” Lisa graduated from Kinesiology in 1994 at the beginning of UBC’s recent success in women’s basketball – some of this success due to her. Her dedication, work ethic and love of the game all of which UBC provided the opportunity for her to showcase, translated into several UBC basketball records and as of 2016, ten still stand or are shared. And it was an emotional evening for Lisa in 2004 when she was honoured at the Big Block banquet as an inductee in the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.
Since graduation, Lisa, now married with a family, has been a teacher and coach in the Okanagan most recently a learning assistance teacher at a Kelowna elementary school. Her goal while at UBC was to teach physical education to special needs youngsters.
Described by UBC coach Deb Huband as a “feisty dynamo who led by example and got the most out of her potential”, Lisa expressed upon her graduation, “The game has given me such great gifts in life. I’ll never be able to give back as much as I’ve received, but I’d like to do as much as I can.”
Written by Fred Hume
Rick Hansen remains one of UBC’s most renowned graduates as the 1986 Physical Education alumnus’ story has been so well documented. But because this man decided to take on challenges rather than avoid them, fight self-pity and despair and because of his resulting motivational and fund-raising accomplishments, we sometimes overlook the fact Rick was one of Canada’s most remarkable athletes.
Prior to entering UBC Rick, a good athlete in his home town of Williams Lake, was involved in an auto accident which left him with a broken spine. Rick’s immense resolve and fortitude paved the way for him to continue his athletic career as a wheelchair basketball and volleyball player playing on several national champion teams, in both sports. At the same time he showcased his abilities on the track, particularly in middle and long distances. In the first Paralympic Games in 1980 Hansen won a silver medal in the 5000M and the following year won gold in the Canadian Marathon. In 1982 he won eight gold medals and set records at the first ever Pan American Games for disabled athletes.
Rick represented Canada and UBC well at the 1984 Olympics by reaching the final in the 1500M and also that year captured gold at the London Wheelchair Games marathon. He was three times named Canada’s Physically Disabled Athlete of the Year and joined Wayne Gretzky no less, as 1983 co-winner of the Lou Marsh Award, the pinnacle of accolades for our athletes.
Since concluding his storied athletic career he has embarked upon motivating those who are disabled, in fact everyone, raising awareness of the accomplishments and potential of the disabled stressing what they can do rather than what they can’t do. Induction into several Halls of Fame and the Order of Canada are among the testaments to his life’s work. In Rick’s words, “We have made great strides in spinal cord injury research (and) quality of life improvement . . . which have made our country the global standard.”
Rick was recently featured as one of Education’s 100 as part of the UBC Faculty of Education’s Year of Alumni celebrations.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
Dr. Derek Swain, who has a Masters of Physical Education from UBC, once again illustrates the degree of career diversity those from this field of study can experience.
While a student on campus Derek developed his loyalty to UBC and to Athletics by serving as a co-manager of Thunderbird basketball teams which included the 1969/70 and the 1971/72 teams both inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. Active on campus, Derek was elected AMS Vice-President and student Senator while being inspired and mentored by the likes of Bob Osborne, Bob Hindmarch, Buzz Moore and Reid Mitchell.
Prior to attaining his MPE in 1977 Derek taught Physical Education in Port Coquitlam and in Australia later becoming Athletic Director at BCIT. It was however his interest in human learning and performance which had emerged through his experiences in physical education and athletics that led him to pursue a doctorate in Counselling Psychology at UBC, which he successfully completed in 1990.
During his career as an Instructor, Counsellor and Registered Psychologist, Derek has authored or contributed to many publications, conducted countless public and media presentations and served on boards of the Regulatory College of Psychologists of BC and the BC Psychological Association.
Throughout however, Derek has remained passionate regarding the Blue & Gold and continues to support and take a strong stand for UBC.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
We are looking forward to you joining us for the KIN Leadership Banquet on Thursday, March 31 at 5pm in the Perch. We are compiling a slideshow of pictures from this year to show at the event and we would like your help putting it together! Please send us no more than 5 photos that meet the following criteria:
- Fun, diverse group of KIN students
- Photos representing a variety of different KIN events
- Appropriate for public viewing – How do you know if it’s appropriate? Ask yourself, would you be proud to show this picture to your grandmother?
- Permission from all people in the photo.
The Canada Research Chairs Secretariat has issued its public announcement of newly appointed Chairholders and it is our great pleasure to congratulate Dr. Eli Puterman on his appointment as Canada Research Chair.
Dr. Eli Puterman, Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology, has been appointed as a Tier II CRC in Physical Activity and Health. Dr. Puterman joined the Faculty in July 2015 and was previously an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Puterman studies how adversity experienced across the lifespan – starting in childhood all the way through older adulthood – accelerates the aging of our immune system. His research demonstrates that physical activity is a powerful behavioural factor that has the potential to delay immune aging in individuals who experience high degrees of adversity across their lifetimes. Dr. Puterman’s research has repeatedly demonstrated that the impact of adversity on aging and disease development is more pronounced in individuals who are less physically active and significantly reduced or eliminated in those who are more physically active. Dr. Puterman’s research seeks to deepen our understanding of how physical activity promotes biological and psychological resiliency in highly stressed individuals who are most at risk for accelerated immune aging. By identifying how and for whom physical activity leads to psychological and biological benefits, Dr. Puterman’s goal is to develop behaviour change intervention strategies specifically designed for individuals living with high levels of adversity, before disease develops. His research will help to maximize our capacity to improve the health of Canada’s youth and adult populations who are at greatest risk for accelerated immune system aging and disease development.
The Government of Canada established the Canada Research Chairs program to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising scholars. Chairholders aim “to achieve research excellence” and to improve “our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada’s international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people.”
Awards and Achievements, Research
One of British Columbia’s greatest athletes, Ted Hunt graduated from UBC with a Physical Education degree in 1957, an MPE in 1961 and a PhD in Education, in 1976.
Hunt was both a standout rugby player – of international calibre and one of the country’s best ski jumpers. He won Big Blocks in both rugby and in skiing and at age 20 represented Canada at the World Ski Jumping Championships in Sweden.
During his studies, Hunt represented Canada in international rugby matches while also playing intramural sports. In the summer he played lacrosse, twice winning the Canadian championship Mann Cup with the Vancouver team.
In his graduating year, Hunt received the Bobby Gaul Award as UBC’s athlete of the year. At the same time, he was selected as the province’s Athlete of the Year. That summer (1957) Hunt tried out with the BC Lions football team and not only made the team but was named the Lions’ Rookie of the Year. The following year, he was selected the team’s Outstanding Canadian Player of the Year.
Hunt’s impressive athletic accomplishments were followed by an extensive teaching career in Vancouver high schools as well as that of an author of both novels and educational books.
In retirement, he served nine years as School Board Trustee, and for 20 years as director of The Students’ Emergency Fund which he began with Brenton Kenny.
Hunt has authored several books: In The Company of Heroes, which became the Indigo Finalist for Dramatized History. He has also authored three books on golf, Ben Hogan’s Magical Device, Ben Hogan’s Short Game Simplified, and Ben Hogan’s Tips For Weekend Golfers. His most recent work was written for Canada’s national seven a-side rugby teams: Creative Backfield Rugby Canadian Style.
Dr. Hunt has been acknowledged with induction into both the UBC and British Columbia Sports Halls of Fame. He is featured as one of Education’s 100 as part of the UBC Faculty of Education’s Year of Alumni celebrations.
Bill McNulty is known for service to his community as a teacher, sports aficionado and city councillor. His story begins as a member of the UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) class graduating in 1968 with a Masters in 1970. During the 1960s UBC’s Intramural Program was under the auspices of the School of Physical Education and it was Bill McNulty who was the student “in charge” of this program. In ensuing years he has maintained engagement with UBC through his Bill McNulty Scholarship in Kinesiology and his service on the university Senate.
As a teacher, Bill was most notably a teacher and counsellor at Vancouver’s Magee High School. He also has a passion for sports particularly track & field and for years has researched and documented the track & field accomplishments and records of BC athletes including some of the more obscure and forgotten. He has long served as a resource for such information. In addition he has researched and written on subjects of community interest including a book on the history of Steveston, the proceeds of which are intended for the Japanese tsunami relief effort.
McNulty is perhaps best known for his long service – two decades – as City Councillor for the City of Richmond. He is one of the few from Physical Education to make a name for themselves in politics. Together with his work on council, Bill has been an appreciated supporter of the Arts and has been made an honourary member of the Richmond Community Arts Council.
Through his energy and passion, Bill continues to maintain engagement and generate his unique contributions.
Bill was recently featured as one of Education’s 100 as part of the UBC Faculty of Education’s Year of Alumni celebrations.
Marilyn Pomfret (1932 – 2019) is one of the most celebrated of UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduates. She has been inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, UBC Sports Hall of Fame, named a YWCA Woman of Distinction and is a recipient of a UBC Alumni Association Achievement Award.
A 1954 UBC graduate, Marilyn taught high school, primarily in West Vancouver, for nine years. She then returned to UBC 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 a 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.” Her dedication to the principals of equality and co-operation led to more athletic opportunities for female athletes, more women participating and more equal funding.
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 1985 re-named in Marilyn Pomfret’s honour.
Marilyn and her late husband Jack continued to be active after retirement in curling and were often seen at UBC events such as Big Block/Hall of Fame where she presented her annual award.
Marilyn is featured as one of Education’s 100 as part of the UBC Faculty of Education’s Year of Alumni celebrations.
