Louise Tricard dies; track historian, great masters friend
Louise Tricard was friends with hundreds of track legends — and many others in the USATF family.
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Louise Mead Tricard, a masters sprinter and marathoner who literally wrote the books on the history of women’s track in America, died last night after a long bout with cancer, according to the sports information director of Hunter College in New York. She was about 71 and lived in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The SID, Joseph DeBenedictis, wrote me this morning: “Just happened to find your site when I was looking for some information on a former athlete of ours. I have the unfortunate news to report that Louise Mead Tricard passed away last night. I do not have any details on the funeral just yet, but thought I would pass that information along as I saw a post about her being hospitalized back in April.” Words can’t describe our loss. She was a courageous soul and early adopter of the Internet, who I befriended more than a decade ago during her fight to rescind the No-False-Start rule. She succeeded. In our email exchanges, she signed off as “ecc” and me as “wcc” — East Coast commie and West Coast commie. She sprinted in masters nationals and completed the New York Marathon. She attended USATF conventions and worked hard to promote and improve our sport. Already, some of the biggest names in track have posted their thoughts, including IAAF rep Bob Hersh. I’ll miss her terribly. Funeral details will be posted when I learn them.
Related posts:
- Carl Wallin, friend of masters track, retiring at Dartmouth
- Louise Tricard truly remembered her friends in her will
- Bishop Dolegiewicz dies at 55; strong friend to many
- Services for Louise Mead Tricard are Friday in Florida
- Masters sprinter/marathoner Louise Tricard hospitalized
19 Responses
I miss you, Louise.
The NY State girls HS state championships, Vassar College original track facility, planing for the first Empire State Games in 1977, the NYC Armory Hall of Fame, two books….
you contributed so much to our sport, made so many opportunities and dreams possible.
Peter Van Aken
Louise Tricard was a pistol, and I mean that in a nice way. Great person to engage in conversation, and very spirited in trying to get what she believed in.
Bob Fine in Florida writes:
There are no funeral arrangements. She is being cremated and her ashes deposited with that of her husband’s, who died two months ago. There is no ceremony and she had no family.
There is a meeting of the Florida Association’s Executive Committee this Sunday. At that time we may discus a memorial fund.
She was a dear friend of long standing. The last two years were spent in and out of hospitals, with numerous operations.
USATF President Bill Roe sent this note from his cell phone:
Louise was one of those wonderful and devoted characters – with a capital “C” – who are such a great part of our sport. We’ll be hard pressed to find people to do all of the things she did and take loving care of all the things she felt so strongly about. We will remember her for that.
Words cannot express the sadness I’m feeling, losing a great friend as Louise. I remember the day Louise interviewed me for her book “History of Women’s track in America and as she interviewed me; I felt I had known Louise all my life. After that day Louise and I never lost contact with one another. She will truly be missed. To my dear friend, God just ordered your feet steps and joy just came in the morning. There will be no more pain, so rest my friend Louise rest.
Love you,
Sharrieffa Barksdale
Louise, you will be greatly missed! You are in my prayers.
You have been a shining example of the type of person that I wish to be. Your zest for life and your enthusiasm for our sport is only surpassed by your zeal for the improvement of the plight of women. Your books are a great reference for those of us longing to hear how great our women in sport were and are to our country, thank you for that!
Thank you for allowing me into your life and thank you for keeping me grounded with the Alumni Association. God bless you! Willie Banks
Louise,
It’s taken me a long time to write this…I have family members who have had cancer. So, I know how painful and draining it can be. So, I’m glad that your battle is finally over. But selfishly, I’m saddened that we can no longer trade emails and simply talk.
I won’t forget you or all the times you helped me grow up in USATF.
I’m honored to call you my friend.
Rest In Peace,
Dexter
Louise is the example we all strive for in our great sport. Her enthusiasm and constant vigilance should be duplicated by us all. I am better for the mentorship she provided to me as I began my work with the Alumni association. Her attention to detail even as she was in the hospital inspired me to continue the work that few are chosen. “God Bless and God Speed”
Thomas
Thank
Christopher Hunt’s obituary of Louise, posted on the New York Armory site, is here:
http://ny.milesplit.us/articles/19963
Hunt’s report adds details, including the fact Louise had just turned 72 and is survived by a daughter. It also says she died at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx.
Very well-done remembrance.
The photo with the report is one I took of Louise about 10 years ago.
Now the Armory obit says Louise is survived by a sister. Got corrected after I last read it.
I knew Louise only from the Track & Field Message board & was immensely privileged to have had the chance to converse with her.
This is such sad, sad knews.
Ken, it would be much appreciated if & when you have the time, to perhaps do a detailed obituary, as I for one, would like to know more about her accomplishments
My heart is heavy and I am drawn to tears, as I discovered the news of Louise’s passing. I can not express in words what this loss feels like. The usatf convention will have an empty hole this year.Louise was not only the historian for women’s track and field, but also the number one cheerleader for our track and field athletes and coaches. She wore her passion boldly and we owe her a sincere thank you for her unrelenting effort to record our careers and accomplishments for the ages.
you will be missed,Louise
Terry
Louise was responsible for equal female coaches having been a volunteer by necessity. She was an outstanding guidance counselor, kind friend and a committed advocate for sports. I miss her as do all those who lives she touched. She got me to the best cancer Dr. in NYC and was always supportive of fighting. She got schools open to the public for after/before hours runs on the fields. When she asked which library to begin her research I suggested Vassar College as she could jog to it. She was respected by all including the the President. She was asked and rededicated the field. The only thing that stopped her perseverance was her death. D
I will miss Louise so much. We first met when we were members together of the seeding committee for the USA Indoor Nationals at the Garden. After 19 or 20 years of this we were close friends and I admired her quiet tenacity and ability to never give up on a tough problem util it was solved for the betterment of the sport and the nationals. God bless her. Bill Thomson
Louise was my high school guidance counselor. She was special to me then and still is in my heart. We remained in contact since 1974. She was so much like a mom to me. I feel so heart-broken. I also have stage 4 breast cancer and Louise was my support.
I will miss her.
Ken note: Pami sent this photo of her with Louise in 1974:
http://www.masterstrack.com/photos/2008/pami.jpg
I am deeply moved by the comments and accolades given here to my sister, Louise.
Louise loved track and field in all ways, and especially women’s track and field. She loved to participate, officiate,record its history, mentor its youth, and advocate for change for the better.
When she wasn’t doing that, she was happily talking about the achievements and awards of all the friends and people she knew and admired. Pictures of many of you, autographs of others,emails, and interviews are everywhere in her study. She was proud of the growth of the sport and the personal relationships she made with so many prominent and dedicated athletes.
Louise is also survived by her nephew Jonathan Mead Peter and his wife Julie, who, following in her footsteps, ran the 2007 NYC Marathon.
A burial service will be held on Friday Oct. 17,2008 at 1PM at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent in Louise’s name,to Florida Athletics Inc.,3250 Lakeview Blvd. Delray Beach, Florida 33445 or Louise Mead Tricard Girls’ Track and Field Scholarships, Armory Foundation 216 Fort Washington Ave. NY 10032
Sincere Thanks
Jane Mead Peter
Louise Tricard touched many lives not only those that were on the Track. I first met her in 1974 when she was working as a Guidance Counselor at John Jay Senior High School and the Girls Track Coach, it was 1974. We spent hours together throughout my time at John Jay High School and she always kept me on the right path. I spoke with her last in 2006 on the phone talking over old times. Louise (Mrs. Tricard) I will miss you. I thank you for the time and encouragement you gave me and so many others. Love, Doug DeLise
We got this bad new today and are unable to express how we will miss you Louise.
Knowing her since a decade, when she tried to check out her roots. She was sure her roots are in Austria.
In the first years knowing her she was a great psychological supporter of my son, one of the best middistance runners in Austria. The last years she had a very personal and deep contact with my daughter Valerie.
We are proud that we had a meet in August 2007 with her and John in Cocoa Beach. It was a great evening. Feeling her illness we had to encourage her to leave her house.
And it was good. She spoke about her last book, about her plan to fight for a new track in Cocoa B.HS and finally about her cats.
Louise and John: We miss you!
Both will be in our heart for ever!
Valerie, Margit, Maurice, Roland Herzog
If anybody wants (very nice) photos from the meet in August 2007 pls .let me know.
Louise was my high school track coach and guidance counselor. We had kept in touch over the years and I considered her to be like a second mom or surrogate aunt. She coached me and many of my teammates to achieve things we never thought we were capable of doing. I will never forget the hug she gave me after a personal best at a sectional track meet – it came at time when I was struggling with a lot of emotional issues. I don’t know how I would have gotten through high school without her.
She always had the heat in her guidance counselor’s office cranked to Florida temperatures…no surprise she retired in Cocoa Beach!
Our track team held fund raisers to attend her “Empire Track and Field Camp for Girls” in 1976. She was light years ahead when it came to women’s track and field. When she painstakingly organized the first Empire State Track and Field Meet in 1975, those of us lucky enough to attend felt it was a true mini-Olympic Games with all the color, ceremony and pride that goes along with it.
Louise, you have been loved by many. Your love and dedication to the sport of track and field, and the encouragement you gave to so many will not be forgotten. Your influence will live forever.
Thank you for being my guidance counselor, thank you for being my coach, thank you for being my friend.
I’ll miss you,
Lisa
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