Linda K. Vaughan

"Outstanding teacher, coach, mentor, avid photographer, and lover of wildlife."

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Linda K. Vaughan, Wellesley College Professor Emerita and former Chair/Director of Athletics, lost her valiant battle with cancer on Saturday October 17, 2009.

As many of you know, Linda was an outstanding teacher, coach, mentor, avid photographer, lover of wildlife, and friend to many! Linda loved Wellesley College, serving for 38 years as a member of the Wellesley faculty in various capacities until her retirement in 2000.

Her passion and commitment to physical education, recreation, and athletics were gifts to all that had the opportunity to interact with her. Linda’s years at Wellesley included the period of tremendous growth in opportunities for female student-athletes. For her extraordinary service to and in support of women’s sports at Wellesley, Linda was awarded FOWCA’s Exceptional Service Award in 1990. She spearheaded the planning and fundraising for the Keohane Sports Center. Linda and co-chair Katherine Curtis (“Kitsy”) Rigler ’61 inaugurated Friends of Wellesley Athletics (FOWCA), a lasting gift to past, present and future student-athletes, the true beneficiaries of Linda Vaughan’s life and work. In the spring of 2008, in honor of her friend, Kitsy, Linda established an endowment fund to support FOWCA. With this final and everlasting legacy, the vision and reality of FOWCA started back in 1986 will carry on forever, thanks to Linda K. Vaughan.

A treasured memory of Linda occurred recently as I shared with her the intention of PERA and FOWCA to recognize her enormous impact by renaming the FOWCA Exceptional Service Award, “The Linda K. Vaughan Award for Exceptional Service,” and by naming a varsity crew shell in her honor. Linda’s eyes lit up, a smile appeared, and her tone reflected lifted spirits! She shared her pride in FOWCA, reminded me that she was the first varsity crew coach, started many dorm and class crew races as department chair, and ended with, “a crew shell was cool.” We talked about her joy at a recent visit from the 80’s PERA faculty. The following morning she called and asked, “What did we decide yesterday?” I shared our plan, and she said,”Oh yeah great, how about ‘LKV - The Colonel’ for the crew shell since everyone used to call me that.”

A memorial service was held on Saturday October 31, 2009 at the Village Congregational Church and was followed by a celebration of Linda Vaughan’s remarkable life at the College Club at Wellesley College. Gifts to the The Linda K. Vaughan Endowment Fund for the Friends of Wellesley College Athletics or for a crew shell to honor Linda may be sent to Wellesley College – FOWCA, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.

Bridget Belgiovine

Chair/Director, Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics