Clark University - Clark News fall 2003
Sports Briefs (fall 2003)
Celebration honors Hall of Fame inductees
On Oct. 4, Clark inducted its 10th class into the Athletic Hall of Fame, which honors outstanding athletes, coaches, administrators and others who have distinguished themselves and the University through Clark’s athletic program. This year’s inductees were the late Steve Cooperman ’80, M.A. ’84, Meegan Garrity Turini ’97, Lisa Guerrin Johnson ’88, Everett Nordstrom ’47 and Merle Solomon Olson ’87.
Cooperman was a four-year member of the ice hockey team and a sophomore when the team earned varsity status. He was one of the finest hockey players in Clark history and was assistant captain during the 1979-80 season. Cooperman led the team in scoring all four years and was Clark’s all-time leading scorer with 105 career goals. He also led the team in assists his sophomore and senior years with 20 and 26 assists respectively.
After graduation, Cooperman became a lab analyst at Worcester’s Waste Water Treatment Facility and continued playing ice hockey in a league in Framingham, Mass. He later joined the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, where he worked until his death in 1997 after a long illness. Cooperman volunteered at the Jacob Hiatt Magnet School, where his children attended, and was recognized by the Worcester Public Schools for his volunteer activities. The late Jacob Hiatt also established a parent volunteer award given annually in Cooperman’s name.
Cooperman is survived by his wife Abbey Feinmark Cooperman ’84, his daughter Andrea and his son Benjamin.
Garrity, a four-year standout, captained the basketball team her senior year and the softball team her junior and senior years.
With 2,793 points, Garrity is Clark’s all-time scoring leader in basketball. She ranks second all-time in NCAA Division III women’s career scoring and is a three-time basketball All-American. Garrity led the country in scoring among all NCAA players (male and female, all divisions) in her junior and senior years. She also holds school records in six career offensive categories and eight individual categories. Garrity led the Cougars to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 1995 and helped lead Clark to an ECAC Championship in 1996 while earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
A four-year starter as the softball team’s shortstop, Garrity helped lead the Cougars to a 75-24 overall record and three postseason ECAC Tournaments. She was named a Regional All-American her senior year and received Clark’s Hughes Award, given annually to a senior female athlete who has made a significant contribution to Clark’s intercollegiate athletic program.
Garrity teaches sixth grade at Clinton Middle School in her hometown, Clinton, Mass. She has coached soccer, basketball and softball in the Clinton Public Schools. Garrity recently married Job Turini.
A four-year member of the soccer team and captain her junior and senior year, Guerrin played a key role in elevating the soccer team to varsity status. She helped lead the Cougars to a 25-17-5 overall record in three years, including a 14-4-2 record in the team’s second varsity year. She was named to the All-New England Team in 1987 and, after an appearance in the MAIAW Tournament in 1996, she was selected to the all-tournament team.
Guerrin was also a four-year member of the basketball team and captain her senior year. She was a member of the 1988 ECAC Championship basketball team and was named a NEWBA Senior All-Star. She also played softball in her first two years at Clark.
Guerrin is a merchandise planner for Victoria’s Secret. She has volunteered at the Columbus, Ohio, Animal Humane Society and participated in many “Race for the Cure” fundraising events in Columbus and Hartford, Conn. She recently married Kevin Johnson.
Nordstrom transferred to Clark and had an immediate impact on the soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He led the basketball team in scoring his first year at Clark and was the soccer team’s leading scorer his senior year, when he was also team captain. Nordstrom, who served two years in World War II, received Clark’s Hebert Trophy, awarded annually to the senior male athlete who contributes significantly to the intercollegiate athletic program.
Nordstrom continued playing basketball in leagues in New Hampshire and Massachusetts after graduation. He began his teaching and coaching career at New Hampton School in New Hampshire, followed by a position at Nichols Junior College in Dudley, Mass. He later became a professional fundraiser for educational institutions, including the University of North Carolina and Peace College.
Olson was a standout four-year member and two-year captain of the volleyball and softball teams. In volleyball, she earned All-New England honors in her senior year and led Clark to more than 100 victories in four years. She led Clark to the MAIAW Championship in her first two years, and the Cougars finished second in the ECAC Tournament her sophomore and senior years.
A solid hitter, and also a pitcher, Olson was a two-time MAIAW softball all-star. She led the team in singles, homeruns and RBIs and was second in batting average her senior year. She received Clark’s Hughes Award.
Olson earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut and is earning teacher’s certification at Anna Maria College. For the past 10 years, she and her husband Craig have participated in the Pan Mass Challenge, a 192-mile, two-day bike ride from Sturbridge, Mass., to Providence, R.I., that raises money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She has also participated in several biathlons and road races. She and her husband have two daughters, Emily and Allie.
|
