Temple University Athletics
Temple Hall Of Fame Member Betty Jane Howat Passes Away At The Age Of 77
11.7.07 | General
Nov. 7, 2007
PHILADELPHIA- Temple Hall of Fame member Betty Jane "BJ" Howat passed away Wednesday, October 31 at her home in Hatboro, PA. Howat was also a member of the Pennsylvania State Swimming Hall of Fame and was honored in 2002 by the American Red Cross for her 50 years of work in aquatics.
A native of Pottsville, PA, Howat captained the women's swim and cheerleading teams during her time as a student at Temple. As a member of the swim team, Howat concentrated on diving. In her senior year she captured second place for diving in an intercollegiate championship. She also led the Chimes Honorary Society, worked in the library, sang in the choir and chorus, and choreographed modern-dance performances.
After graduating, Howat coached Temple's female divers and was a physical education instructor for several years until the birth of her first child. In 1993, Howat retired from a life of teaching and coaching. For 15 years she taught and coached at William Tennent High School in Warminster. Before her arrival at the school, the girls swim team had never had a winning season. During her coaching stint at William Tennent, the team never had another losing season and two of her swimmers broke state high school records in the 50-yard freestyle.
Before her time at William Tennent, Howat taught physical education and coached the swim team at Abington Friends School. For 26 summers she was the coach at the Hideaway Swim Club in Horsham, and in 24 of them Hideaway's team won the Colonial Swim League Championship.
An upstanding citizen, Howat participated in numerous community service efforts. Her community service included volunteering at Doylestown Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, and in soup kitchens in Kensington and Norristown. She was also an avid scuba diver and enjoyed birding. Howat, who met her husband as a student at Temple, was married for 52 years and had two children.
A memorial service will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 7 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 505 N. York Rd., in Hatboro.
