For generations of 布里奇沃特 State physical education students, Dr. Mary Jo 莫里亚蒂 was a source of inspiration 和 mentorship. 的y became leaders in the field by utilizing the lessons she taught.
Current Bears may only know 莫里亚蒂 as the name of the campus pool, but the program she founded 和 shaped continues to serve them well today.
命名的
Dr. Mary Jo 莫里亚蒂
的 Backstory
莫里亚蒂 brought a physical education program to BSU from Hyannis State Teachers College after the Cape Cod college closed in 1944. She taught at 布里奇沃特 for the remainder of her career, retiring in 1970 as chairperson of the Department of Physical Education.
“She was a strong role model for many of us during our years at 布里奇沃特, during our professional careers, 和 in our personal lives,” former students wrote in a 布里奇沃特 magazine tribute to her.
Many thought of themselves as “Mary's girls,” a testament to her skill as an educator 和 commitment to her students.
“She had a way of teaching that took the difficulty out of learning,” recalled Marcia Crooks, ’55.
During 莫里亚蒂’s tenure at 布里奇沃特, she launched an academic program respected locally, nationally 和 globally. She also helped design Kelly Gymnasium, which houses the pool that was named in her honor during the 1990-1991 academic year.
“Dr. 莫里亚蒂, you gave us the world's best start 和 you left your anchor deep in our hearts,” Crooks said at the ceremony naming the pool after 莫里亚蒂.
的 Physical Education 校友 Association presents an award named for 莫里亚蒂 to a member of each graduating class from the Department of 健康 和 Kinesiology, which houses the physical education program today.
今天使用
莫里亚蒂 Pool, housed in Kelly Gymnasium on the west side of campus, is the home of the men's 和 women's swimming 和 diving teams. 的 pool has six, 25-yard-long lanes 和 1-meter 和 3-meter diving boards. It can accommodate 300 spectators 和 150 swimmers.
的 pool also hosts open swim hours 和 swimming lessons. 的 Children’s Physical 发展al Clinic, through which BSU students work with children with disabilities, uses the pool as part of its weekly sessions.
Material in this article comes from the 1991年春季 和 1992年春季 版本的 布里奇沃特 magazine as well as the 1997 book A Noble Legacy: Physical Education Major 1937-1987, 布里奇沃特 State College 博士. Catherine Comeau.