Temple University Athletics
Temple Mourns Passing of Hall of Famer Alice Putnam Willetts
6.11.20 | Field Hockey
PHILADELPHIA - Temple University mourns the loss of Hall of Famer Alice Putnam Willetts, a three-sport standout who passed peacefully in her home on June 6 at the age of 94.
A four-year member of the field hockey, women's basketball, and women's tennis teams, Willetts was selected to an all-college hockey team for four years. She played 10 years of hockey for all-Philadelphia, Middle Atlantic and U.S. teams and played lacrosse for 10 years for all-Philadelphia and U.S. teams. Willetts introduced lacrosse to Temple and coached the Owls for three years.Â
A Swarthmore, Pa., native, Willetts was inducted to the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in 1977, and was inducted to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998. A member of seven Hall of Fames, she was also inducted to the Delaware County, Pennsylvania State, Pennsylvania Lacrosse, U.S. Field Hockey, and Strath Haven Halls of Fame.
Following her time at Temple, where she graduated magna cum laude in 1947, Willetts taught and coached at Swarthmore High School, Swarthmore College, Shipley School, and Strath Haven High School before retiring from teaching in 1986. While at Swarthmore High School, Willetts launched and ran the Girls' Athletic Association, which sponsored various mother-daughter and father-daughter events as well as other special morale-oriented projects. She coached three varsity and junior varsity teams each year and sometimes oversaw as many as four additional teams below the JV level, so that all interested athletes could be on a team and compete. She encouraged students to participate both in sports and academics.
After retiring from teaching and coaching, she became involved in the community of Swarthmore and founded organizations for senior citizens including the Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association and the Dew Drop Inn.Â
A memorial service will be held, likely in the spring of 2021. The date has yet to be announced.
A four-year member of the field hockey, women's basketball, and women's tennis teams, Willetts was selected to an all-college hockey team for four years. She played 10 years of hockey for all-Philadelphia, Middle Atlantic and U.S. teams and played lacrosse for 10 years for all-Philadelphia and U.S. teams. Willetts introduced lacrosse to Temple and coached the Owls for three years.Â
A Swarthmore, Pa., native, Willetts was inducted to the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in 1977, and was inducted to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998. A member of seven Hall of Fames, she was also inducted to the Delaware County, Pennsylvania State, Pennsylvania Lacrosse, U.S. Field Hockey, and Strath Haven Halls of Fame.
Following her time at Temple, where she graduated magna cum laude in 1947, Willetts taught and coached at Swarthmore High School, Swarthmore College, Shipley School, and Strath Haven High School before retiring from teaching in 1986. While at Swarthmore High School, Willetts launched and ran the Girls' Athletic Association, which sponsored various mother-daughter and father-daughter events as well as other special morale-oriented projects. She coached three varsity and junior varsity teams each year and sometimes oversaw as many as four additional teams below the JV level, so that all interested athletes could be on a team and compete. She encouraged students to participate both in sports and academics.
After retiring from teaching and coaching, she became involved in the community of Swarthmore and founded organizations for senior citizens including the Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association and the Dew Drop Inn.Â
A memorial service will be held, likely in the spring of 2021. The date has yet to be announced.
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