Alice Putnam Willetts

Alice Putnam Willetts (February 6, 1926 – June 6, 2020), previously Alice Putnam,[1] and sometimes known by the nickname "Putty",[2] was an American field hockey and lacrosse player and coach. She played on the U.S. women's national field hockey team from 1946 to 1955 and was in the first class of inductees into the U.S. Field Hockey Association Hall of Fame.

Alice Putnam Willetts
Alice Putnam from 1946 Temple yearbook
Personal information
BornFebruary 26, 1926
Ridley, Pennsylvania, US
DiedJune 6, 2020(2020-06-06) (aged 94)
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, US

Early years

She was born in Ridley, Pennsylvania, on February 6, 1926.[3] She graduated from Swarthmore High School in 1943. She played four years of basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey at Swarthmore High.[2] She next attended Temple University where she competed in field hockey, basketball, and tennis.[4] She graduated from Temple magna cum laude in 1947.[5] She also introduced lacrosse to Temple and served as the school's lacrosse coach for three years.[4][5]

Field hockey career and honors

She was a member of the United States national field hockey team in 1946 and remained a member of the national team for nine years through 1955.[5] She was also a member of the United States national women's lacrosse team for 12 years. Professionally, she taught and held other positions at a variety of educational institutions, including Swarthmore High School, Swarthmore College, Shipley School at Bryn Mawr, and Stath Haven High School.[2]

In 1988, she became one of the charter inductees into the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame.[5] She was also inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Temple University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977.[6][4]

Later years

After retiring, she became active in community affairs in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and founded the Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association. She died on June 6, 2020, at age 94.[2][7]

References
  1. "Kelly Addresses Temple Women". The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 9, 1946. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Alice Putnam Willetts". Swarthmore, Pennsylvania: The Swarthmorean. June 9, 2020.
  3. "Alice Willetts". Hagan Funeral Home. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. "Alice Putnam Willetts". Temple University. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  5. "Celebrating the Life of Alice Putnam Willetts". June 18, 2020.
  6. "In Memory of Alice "Putty" Willetts". US Lacrosse Magazine. June 10, 2020.
  7. "Temple Mourns Passing of Hall of Famer Alice Putnam Willetts". Temple University. June 11, 2020.
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